WORRIED Leamington boss Paul Holleran believes complacency has started to creep into the squad after the Brakes slumped to a second consecutive home defeat without scoring.
After a largely disappointing September it was hoped an enforced two-week break, only punctuated by the Birmingham Senior Cup win at Sutton Coldfield Town on October 2, would have the players reinvigorated and ready to try and work back towards their early season form in National League North.
However, this was was not the case as Adam Morgan’s fifth minute penalty was enough to give Curzon the 1-0 victory on Saturday.
A furious Holleran said after the game: “We’ve got to take a long hard look at our performance – it wasn’t good enough, certainly in the first half.
“I think after the start we made to the season one or two of us have got a little bit complacent and expected things to just happen for us.
“It doesn’t work like that in this league.
“In a first half performance here when conditions are so difficult and we’re second best everywhere, we’re out-fought and we’re outplayed, that’s a real worry for me.
“It was a game of limited chances but we had a couple of really good openings and sadly we haven’t taken them.
“There may have been a couple of things in the penalty box that didn’t go our way but overall it was a very disappointing afternoon.”
The tone was set from the opening minutes, with the referee’s whistle punctuating play.
With play having twice been halted for apparent head injuries to visiting players which did not require treatment, a contentious penalty was awarded after just five minutes.
Jamie Hood was adjudged to have fouled Ryan Brooke as the two players went shoulder to shoulder for the ball.
There were claims the challenge took place outside the box and the visiting player went down far too easily but the referee awarded the spot kick.
Morgan stepped up to confidently sweep his side in front and give them the perfect start to the afternoon.
Brakes simply could not get going, with 25 minutes passing before they managed to put a worthwhile sequence of passes together and half an hour before Callum Gittings’ sharp turn on the edge of the box saw him lash in a low drive which was unfortunately directed straight at Curzon keeper Ben Purdham.
Brakes did at least make a fist of things in the second half but their frustration was as evident as it was in the stands.
Matt Stenson fired wide and Jack Edwards directed a weak effort straight at Purdham.
Holleran threw on Reece Flanagan and Connor Taylor with an hour gone to try and swing the game in Leamington’s favour but they just couldn’t find a way through.
