Goalkeeper James Hamon says Exeter City are more than capable of climbing the League Two table, despite a run of four defeats from the last five.
City lost 2-0 to Northampton Town last time out but, despite their poor recent run, Paul Tisdale's side have not lost much ground and sit 10th in the table, just two points behind Plymouth Argyle, who occupy the last of the play-off places.
"We said afterwards that we have lost four out of the last five, but we are still in touching distance of the play-offs, which means teams above us are struggling as well," said Hamon. "If we can get on the road next week and start winning again, then we will start climbing the table. That is our main aim and I think we are more than capable of doing that.
"If we can get back on a winning streak and let it snowball, keep performing well, then there is a good chance we can get into the play-off positions."
City head this coming weekend to Mansfield Town, a side who are under new management after appointing Adam Murray as the successor to Paul Cox at the start of December. He has already made six new signings during this transfer window, including Billy Kee, the former Torquay United striker, who is proven at this level with 39 goals in 99 appearances for Burton Albion.
"We have done well on the road this season, but Mansfield won't be easy," Hamon added. "We know they like to play long ball, although they have a new manager in who is trying to change that. But they will be up for it, it will be a good game and as long as we put a performance in and try and get the three points, that's all we can do."
Hamon's recent form has seen him picked in the starting XI ahead of fellow 19-year-old Christy Pym. Needless to say, Hamon is enjoying his opportunity, even if recent results have not gone to plan.
"It has been really good and I have enjoyed it, but coming off feeling like I did after Saturday – I don't want to be doing that every week. We have been doing well and lost one in 17 before this run. Being a part of that was a great experience and a great feeling, but those are the highs and lows of football. It was a high back then, to the low of losing to Northampton.
"We started well enough and, had we taken one or two of our chances, it would have been a different game. But we conceded a really poor goal from the throw-in, which shouldn't happen given how much we work on set-pieces and then, after the second goal was scored so soon after, we lost our way.
"We had a few chances to get back into the game in the second half, but didn't take them and it was just a disappointing result."
