Coyle wants his side to finish their season on a high

The Seasiders have defied expectations this season and currently sit 11th in the Thurlow Nunn League premier division.

However, they have lost their last four games – all against high-flying sides – and most recently went down 4-2 at home to champions-elect Norwich United on Saturday.

Now Coyle wants his side to end strongly in their final three games – against Thetford Town at the Rush Green Bowl on Saturday, at Kirkley & Pakefield and then at home to Gorleston on April 30.

“We need another win or two under our belts to finish the season on a high, so we can all look back on a really good year,” said Coyle.

“Otherwise, if we end with a series of defeats, people will forget all the excellent work and progress that has been made in the previous six months.

“I don’t want anyone to lose sight of that.

“We know we’re guaranteed to stay up, which is an outstanding achievement, and it’s always going to be tough when you play the likes of Norwich, Stanway and Mildenhall.

“However, we have to fancy our chances against the likes of Thetford and Gorleston.

“They’re two sides below us in the table and another couple of wins, at least, will hopefully give us a position that’s a truer reflection of our progress this season.

“To finish in mid-table would be a minor miracle for us and I don’t say that lightly.

“No-one would have predicted that at the start of the season, when you consider the other sides in our division.”

Coyle hopes his side can put on a strong show against Thetford.

However, he admits it depends which side turns up, given his team’s inconsistent performances in recent weeks.

“We’ve been very good at times this season,” he said.

“We’ve played some very good football and taken on – and beaten – some of the top teams.

“Equally, we have looked lethargic on occasions as though we’ve never played together before.

“Some weeks we’re good and some weeks bad and that’s why we are where in the table – in the middle.”

Clacton will be without Karl Andrade (hip injury), Lee Townrow (suspended) and possibly Wayne Chapman (knee) against Thetford.

And Coyle admits team selection is going to be tricky between now and the end of the season.

“In terms of personnel, it’s going to be a real struggle,” he said.

“People are hanging on with little knocks but we’ll get a team out and hopefully one that plays with the same effort, energy and commitment as Saturday.”

Striker Andrade came off with at half-time against Norwich, having suffered his injury in the previous game at Stanway Rovers.

Townrow is suspended, having missed the previous two games through injury, while Chapman is struggling with a knee injury suffered during the Stanway game.