BRIGHTLINGSEA Regent manager Kem Izzet is convinced his team can halt their slide and start climbing the table.

The R's are second from bottom in the BetVictor Isthmian League premier division after suffering two quickfire 2-0 defeats.

They lost by that scoreline at home to Cray Wanderers on Saturday and then again at Carshalton Athletic on Monday.

It means Regent have lost their last four league and cup matches 2-0 and only scored once in their last six - Jake Turner's penalty in the FA Trophy defeat against Royston Town.

Izzet still believes his players can turn things round, by playing on the front foot and being "proactive, rather than reactive".

“Someone once told me that even the best players in the world only touch the ball for around two minutes a game," he said.

“It’s an unbelievable statistic and highlights the importance of doing the right things, and making the right decisions, without the ball.

“It’s about getting yourself in a position to receive the ball - or stopping others receiving it.

“Either way, you have to work harder without the ball than with it.

“That’s the reality of football and if you don’t stay switched on and engaged, you get found out.

“Players with less ability only follow the ball and watch it with tunnel vision.

“But you have to be proactive rather than reactive.

“That’s the key and we have to start understanding that sooner rather than later.”

Izzet knows his side need to start scoring more goals - and fast.

“After winning possession, we’re too happy to pass the ball backwards and sideways; to play safe and keep possession," he said.

“Instead we should be looking to quickly play the ball forward, create chances and catch teams out.

“The boys are lacking a bit of confidence, because of the number of games we’ve lost.

“But it’s our job to turn things round and I definitely believe we’re capable of that.

“It’s about taking baby steps and everyone’s aware of that at the club.

“It’s going to take patience but it’s also about having high standards.

“We’ll keep going, keep trying to improve and see where it takes us.

“It’s still relatively early in the season although I’m aware we can’t keep saying ‘it’s only November’.

“There comes a point where we have to start winning games and I’m not foolish enough to think we’ve got all the time in the world.

“We’ve got start winning games or at least picking up points."

Joseph Taylor scored both goals in Cray's victory while Jeremiah Amoo and Ricky Korboa were on target for Carshalton.

Reflecting on the home defeat, Izzet said: “Did they carve us open? Not really.

“They were a decent passing team but how many clear-cut opportunities did they create?

“If we’d defended properly, and not given silly goals away, we’d have stayed in the game.

“But aside from the goals, it wasn’t a bad performance and there more positives than has previously been the case.

“I appreciate we’re not creating too many chances either but if we could just keep a clean sheet, our confidence would grow.

“It would give us something to build on.”

Brightlingsea have no game this weekend.

Their next fixture is at home to Cheshunt - one place and one point above them - on November 30.