Mark Beard admits rebuilding confidence is his first priority at Imperial Fields as Tooting & Mitcham lurch ever closer to the lower reaches of the Ryman Premier.

Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat at bottom of the table Horsham extended the Terrors’ miserable run, and came on the back of a 3-1 home defeat to Bury Town on Saturday.

And boss Beard accepts things have to change fast.

He said: “There is no doubt confidence is low at the moment.

“We really need a spark to get our season going.

“You need a bit of luck sometimes and we are not getting it at the moment.

“I would not say it is my fault, but as a manager you pick the team and they are not producing at the moment.

“I need to get into them in training on Thursday, pick the players up and get a buzz back about the place.”

Tooting dominated for patches on Tuesday night but once again struggled to find the net.

And Beard feels the problems in front of goal are the root of his side’s problems, with Karl Beckford’s penalty scant consolation in Saturday’s defeat.

He added: “We cannot score and we are giving away soft goals, it is as simple as that.

“The build-up play is good and we are creating plenty of chances, but we are not taking them.

“I keep saying that week in, week out but at the moment the message is not getting through.

“Taking your chances is part and parcel of football and is a lesson we have to learn.”

Tooting face Hastings United on Saturday as they look to rebuild their campaign.

And the Terrors boss is expecting another tough test.

Beard added: “Hastings are very strong and solid at the back.

“They have good strikers so they will present problems at both ends of the pitch.

“I know their management very well so I know how they will approach the game.

“We need to stop waiting for things to happen and get at them from the start.”

Tooting & Mitcham’s next three matches: Oct 9 Hastings United (h), 16 Sutton United (FAT, a), 19 Croydon Athletic (h)