Yahoo Sport 
Ballymena United boss Jim Ervin recalls David Jeffrey quote as he assesses recent blip
'Fine lines and thin margins'. It's a saying often quoted by former Linfield and Ballymena United boss David Jeffrey.
Jim Ervin has probably heard it a thousand times, but it's a sentiment that resonates with the current Sky Blues manager.
The 39-year-old ex-defender rolled out the quote following Ballymena's recent four-game losing run in the Premiership, a slump that ended with a spirited 1-0 win over Cliftonville at Solitude on November 16.
READ NEXT: Nathan Rooney sends out defiant title message as he takes over the reins at Larne
And while some fans feared a mid-season collapse, Ervin knew the defeats were down to 'fine lines and thin margins'.
"Let's be honest, when we went 11 games unbeaten we were fortunate enough at times where we weren't getting punished for the mistakes we were making. When results go against you, it seems every little mistake you make, or any little decision that goes against you, you get punished for it," he said.
"When you're a player you look for things to shift the blame a little bit. Sometimes it is fine lines and thin margins, as Big Davy used to say to us. And ultimately when you look across the league, whether it be decisions or chances missed, it all falls down to fine margins.
"And every game has its different challenges. Against Cliftonville we got away with a couple of things. We were fortunate enough that Cliftonville missed chances, and our confidence was able to build. You start thinking this could be our day.
"At half-time we came in at 0-0 and we managed to get some more belief into the boys. We got the first goal and could have made it 2-0. We had a nerve-racking last 5-10 minutes."
Ervin's side started the season with four straight league defeats, so their recent slip wasn't a new experience for his players. But the Ballymena boss thinks his squad is made of sterner stuff these days.
READ MORE: Declan Devine demands crucial factor missing from Glentoran's season
READ MORE: Larne vs Cliftonville: Jim Magilton offers thoughts on Nathan Rooney arrival
He feels the trials and tribulations over the past year-and-a-half have chiselled some added character into his changing room.
Asked what the message was to his players during their recent four-game losing run, Ervin said: "We had already experienced it earlier in the season when we lost our first four games. It was just about getting the guys to believe in what they can do.
"Yes, we were disappointed in the four games we lost, but other than Portadown the other games were nip and tuck. Losing 2-0 away to Linfield was cruel because up until the sending off we were pretty good.
"Coleraine we lost narrowly, same as the Crusaders game. So the Portdown game was the only one we let ourselves down. It was a case of getting back to basics and having the boys believe that on their day, and everyone performs, that we can get a result.
"Bear in mind that we went away to Cliftonville without five starters. Ben Kennedy and Johnny McMurray were suspended, Aaron Jarvis, Kym Nelson and Sean Brown were also injured.
"So I think people had us written off going into that game, and it's credit to the guys who came in. There are boys there who had to play a system which was unfamiliar to them, and boys who hadn't played a lot of game time.
"They came in and did a job for us, and ultimately we got the result we desired."
Sign up to our free sports newsletter to get the latest headlines to your inbox
