PAUL Carden has called the mentality of his Warrington Town squad into question.

Ahead of Whitby Town’s visit to Cantilever Park tomorrow and a trip to Buxton on Tuesday, Yellows find themselves slipping further behind the BetVictor Northern Premier League Premier Division’s top sides.

They occupy the final play-off spot in fifth place, but the gap between themselves and a top-three position is five points – albeit they have two games in hand on second-place Lancaster City.

They trail league leaders South Shields, whom they beat in last year’s play-off final, by 11 points having played a game more.

Town could only manage another draw on Saturday – their 10th of the season – at bottom side Stafford Rangers.

Even then, they required an injury-time Josh Amis equaliser to rescue a point after once again taking the lead, only to collapse thanks to two Stafford goals in as many minutes.

Carden believes his side are “too nice” and thinks none of their performances thus far have been anything better than “okay.”

“I believe we’ve got a strong squad in terms of ability, but I’m questioning the mentality,” he said.

“When your backs are against the wall, you find out what you’re made of.

“Josh Amis has come on having not played for months on Saturday, he’s forced the issue and got a goal

“He’s going to be big for us like we’ve always said, but we need a bit more from others in attacking areas.

“We’re flaky and fluffy and overall, we’re too nice.

“We’re going to have to be much better. We have been okay at best at times this season.

“We’ve had some good wins and good results, but we’re throwing too many points away.

“Rather than us being undone, it’s our own undoing and I’ve got to look at things.

“We’re getting to the meat of the season and I’m looking at it thinking ‘who have we got to see a game through and drive a team on at 1-0 up?’

“I’m seeing Ben Garrity and Scott Brown working but are we doing enough in other areas of the pitch? I don’t think we are.

“The league is there to be got at and we’re not getting at it.”