Notts County boss Neal Ardley says his side need to be braver and have the fight to avoid relegation

A grim faced Neal Ardley makes his way off the pitch.

The Magpies remain deep in trouble after a 2-1 defeat at home to basement boys Macclesfield Town on Boxing Day.

And it doesn’t get any easier with promotion-chasing Bury next on the radar.

“We need to keep the core that is up for the fight. The ones that are not, we need to clear some space,” he said.

“We have to do our home work on Bury and put them in a position to win a game of football.

“We are football coaches and not magicians. We have to look at where it is going wrong, players have got to work with us and be brave in the way we play.

“Hopefully we can pick up the wins we need. It is flat at the moment in the dressing room.

“We could do with a little more character in there and get a reaction.

“We need the players to be up for it and angry like I am, they are flat - whether that is to do with confidence I don’t know.

“We have to do the best we can until january. Iknew what the situation would be when I took over.

“We need to have a strong finish to the season and that is what we will try to do.”