EAST Thurrock United captain Sam Higgins has backed himself and his team-mates to rediscover their early season form and finish the season with a flourish.

Rocks have endured a frustrating start to the second half of the season, exacerbated by an excellent first five months of the campaign that saw them lose just five games.

Six weeks into 2017, Higgins and co have already matched that tally of defeats and have lost four of the last five games in the National League South.

But Higgins, 26, is not concerned - citing recent departures as a reason for the dip in form.

“It has been frustrating for us,” said the Rocks skipper. “We have lost a few players defensively and that has weakened us.

“We have brought a few in as well and when they gel we can start performing better in that department, although the whole team is responsible for keeping it tight.

“There have been changes across the whole team and that has knocked us. It is always hard at this time of the season. It is different in pre-season as they have time to learn the way the team plays but they have to hit the ground running now.

“We believe 45 points should be enough to keep us in the division,” he added. “We had a really good first half of the season and we have slipped recently but we will get back on track.

“We want to get these points as soon as possible of course so we can take stock again but for now it is just getting the performances back and the points will follow.

“The fixtures will be hard but we can beat these sides as the first half of the season showed.”

Higgins himself admits he wishes he was getting more goals to help the side - despite scoring 19 times in 23 matches having missed much of the first four months of term through injury.

However, most of the goals have come in cup competitions - 14 in total. In fact Higgins has scored in all nine cup games he has played in this season and he will want to continue that form in the Essex Senior Cup final.

Rocks booked their place in the showpiece occasion for the first ever time earlier this month, with a match against in-form National League South opponents Chelmsford City to come.

And he said 2016/17 still has to potential to be a hugely successful season for the team.

“It is nice to get that final,” he said. “And if we finish where we are in the league now that will be a great achievement.

“People might have had us among the favourites to go down at the start but that is unsurprising I suppose.

“In terms of my own form, I am pleased.

“I have got a few goals but I want more of course and it was hard due to the injury in the first few months.

“You are always playing catch up in terms of fitness but I am getting there with each game.

“But we are all confident and know we can play at this level so we will pick up and push on.”