Adrian Toppin admits Carshalton Athletic’s fragile mental state is hampering the Robins’ bid to secure their Ryman Premier survival.

Athletic stumbled to a 2-1 home defeat to Horsham on Tuesday night, a result that leaves them sitting precariously above the drop-zone.

And, having claimed just one win from three home games in the space of five days, midfielder Toppin reckons it is time to roll up the sleeves and fight.

He said: “I think it is all down to confidence.

“If we get the first goal in a game everyone seems to relax and play their football and we look good.

“But if we concede first you look around and the heads seem to have dropped.

“We have dug ourselves into a hole and it is up to us to get out of it.

“We seem to enjoy doing things the hard way and it is going down to the wire again.”

Tuesday’s defeat, despite a goal from Pico Pelayo Gomez, came on the heels of Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Harrow Borough, with Byron Harrison and David Ray on target.

And Toppin felt it was a game that got away.

He added: “In the first half we were well on top and we should have been out of sight.

“But after the break it just did not happen.

“We did not really look like scoring and we paid the price.”

The Robins face Hendon tonight (Thursday) before hosting Cray Wanderers on Saturday.

And the midfielder reckons two wins would be the perfect response.

Toppin added: “To be honest we do not want to be going to Wealdstone for our last game needing to get something.

“So I think six points from our next two games is the real target.

“It is in our hands and we are not relying on anyone and that is all you can ask for at this stage.”

Carshalton Athletic’s remaining fixtures: Apr 15 Hendon (a), 17 Cray Wanderers (h), 24 Wealdstone (a)