Dean Holden of Shrewsbury Town and Craig King of Hereford United

Experienced defender Dean Holden is eyeing a Shrewsbury Town Christmas revival after admitting: “We have let everyone down since Staines.”

Town have managed just one victory in seven League outings since being humbled by the Blue Square South outfit in the first round of the FA Cup at the end of November.

That run continued with Saturday’s 4-0 defeat at Rochdale, and Holden has admitted a rapid response is required in the festive double-header at home to Macclesfield on Saturday and at Bradford just 48 hours later.

“Confidence is low at the moment,” admitted the former Oldham full-back. “We are not giving ourselves a chance in each game.

“We are going out there giving teams goals and making it hard for ourselves.

“We have let the manager and everyone else down from the Staines game onwards.

“I don’t know where it has come from because we put in a great performance at Notts County and then a week later was Staines at home and it started from there.

“The quality on the ball isn’t there and we are giving teams goals – everything is wrong at the moment.

“We have got to stand up and start fighting for our own pride and, in turn, start doing it for the gaffer and the rest of the staff.”

Holden welcomes the fact Town have the chance to make amends this weekend with six points up for grabs inside 48 hours.

“We have two quick games to come and when you are on the floor, you either get up and fight or you give in,” he added.

“You have got to believe and there is no point feeling sorry for ourselves.

“I don’t believe in giving in and never have in my life.”

By JAMES GARRISON