There was no bank holiday day off for the Silkmen squad as their minds turned to the small matter of a trip to Premier League West Ham. A tough training session ensued and manager Keith Alexander said it was time for everyone to stand up and be counted.

"It's no secret that our start to the season has been very disappointing. I know that and so do the players. We can look for excuses and point to the fact that Shrewsbury and Bradford have won all three of their games but when it comes down to it we have not done ourselves, and more importantly the fans, justice."

"It is the manner of our defeats that have perhaps hurt most. We've been strangely low key as was typified on Saturday. I thought for the first hour we didn't really look in that much danger. Ok we weren't creating a hatful of chances but still all the same we were competing."

"Then we switched off and found ourselves chasing the game and what chances we did have we weren't able to put away. I won't stand here in front of you and openly criticise the players. That won't achieve anything as we have to stick together at all times. What needs to have been said has been said and we move on from here."

"Football is a great life and sometimes I think people in the game can forget that. We are all very privileged and shouldn't be feeling sorry for ourselves. Far from it! It's a long season and we have 43 more games in the league to show we are capable of much better."

"We all know the areas in which we need to improve and I will also be looking at possible changes to the team to freshen things up a little. Perhaps it is time to give the likes of young Kristian Dennis and Christian Millar a run out. West Ham isn't perhaps the best place to do that but certainly for the game against Darlington on Saturday."

"West Ham should be a good experience for everyone. They've not had the best of starts and will have been disappointed with their result at City on Sunday. So we can expect a stronger team than perhaps the manager wanted to put out. But whatever side we face I want us to go out there and match them in terms of effort and do ourselves justice."

"Set pieces have been hurting us. But we work hard on them in training and it is all about taking that and the responsibility with it onto the park. That involves hard work. It won't just happen. I've never been given anything in my life on a plate so its important we just get our heads down and play to our potential."

"It's of course a challenge. As a club we aren't flush with cash. But again we shouldn't start feeling sorry for ourselves. We proved in the last twelve games of last season what can be achieved. We just need to rediscover that form and when we do I am confident the results will follow."

"Of course I understand the fans' frustration. They're entitled to have a moan, of course they are. No one likes to lose especially me. But I would urge everyone to stick together. There's a long, long way to go. But I accept that the lead has to come from our performances and we'll be working hard to put that right."

"Honeymoon periods don't last very long in football these days. I know mine is over but that won't stop me doing all I can to improve the standing of this football club."