Exiles hurt is Hollands' motivation

The Blues midfielder admitted hitting lows like last weekend’s defeat to the Exiles is ruining his life.

And avoiding a repeat of that pain is the motivation as Paul Cook’s side go to Mansfield.

Hollands gave an insight into how the team’s inconsistency is impacting him.

And he doesn’t want to feel like that again this season.

Hollands said: ‘One minute you are on cloud nine and the next you’re rock bottom. That sums up football.

‘For me, you plan to do things with your family over a weekend.

‘Then, after a defeat like Newport, all you want to do is sit in a room and do nothing.

‘It went from Tuesday to Saturday. You play like that and you are buzzing on the coach.

‘Then Saturday comes along and you almost want to retire after that.

‘You feel so low. It ruins your life.

‘You don’t want to experience those feelings.’

Hollands made no bones about the season being at a crucial tipping point with 10 games to go.

Six points is the gap to the top three with the same distance to AFC Wimbledon, who sit outside the play-off positions.

Hollands said: ‘This could be a very good end to the season or a very bad one.

‘We have to look forward and think positive.

‘We have to take it on the pitch and make things happen.

‘The lows are testing times and it tests you as a character.

‘You have to get your head together and work hard.

‘When the next game comes around you can be on cloud nine again.’

– JORDAN CROSS