DEAN Whitehouse says Tividale must show more self-belief if they are to challenge in the Midland Alliance this season.

The West Midlands Premier champions have won plaudits for how quickly they have settled into life at step five and Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Rocester was their first league loss of the campaign.

But Whitehouse is still not satisfied and says the players need to show more faith in themselves.

He said: “The players have got to start believing like the coaches do.

“That’s not me being big-headed but I genuinely feel there is nothing to worry us in this league.

“I could hear the Rocester fans on Saturday and they said some nice things about us. That’s not the first time people have complimented us this season either but I’m not interested in making friends, I want to win.

“If Saturday’s game had been a boxing match they would have stopped it at half-time.

“But we didn’t take our chances and in the end we got punished. It’s not like last year when we could intimidate sides, in this league we have no reputation and players must step up to the plate.”

Whitehouse knows Tivi will have to show their mettle on Saturday, when they host Alliance leaders Westfield in the FA Vase first round.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw back in August and should the Saturday’s game go to a replay, Whitehouse for one will do little complaining.

While the trips to places like Westfields and Nottinghamshire’s Dunkirk are often a bugbear for bosses, Whitehouse says he and his players have begun to enjoy the days out.

He added: “It’s nice for us to go away and enjoy these days as a team.

“Playing in the Alliance is a new experience for all of us and it’s been a nice change.

“I think Tividale had been in the West Midlands Premier since 1862, or at least it felt like it!

“It had got to the stage where we knew everybody and everywhere and it’s been great to visit some new places.”