Rob Edwards: It is time for AFC Telford to toughen up
An angry Rob Edwards has called on his AFC Telford United side to 'show more aggression' after suffering a fifth straight home defeat.
The Bucks were thrashed 5-1 by Harrogate Town at the New Bucks Head on Saturday, thanks in no small part to a second half capitulation.
They have lost every National League North game they have conceded in this season.
When asked if that is down to a lack of mental strength from the players, Edwards said: "I suppose it is all aspects.
"To me, it looked like they outworked us in the second half.
"We need to get at people quicker and show more aggression – I don't mean kicking people, but getting closer to them.
"Whether its a mental thing, I don't know. I don't think it is. To me, it's a work rate thing.
"I don't like losing by a few goals at home, it's not acceptable. I'm angry."
Telford's oldest player on Saturday was 28-year-old skipper Shane Sutton.
Goalkeeper Jas Singh and defender Jordan Gough are 27 while everyone else who featured is under 25.
And Edwards admitted the Bucks' shortcomings could be down to a lack of experience.
"It could be. We have spoke about coping mechanisms, trying to reset," he said.
"The lads gave us game management and were brave in the first half, but didn't in the second.
"We were winning the game against one of the top teams in the league, and competing."
Edwards was particularly disappointed to see Harrogate's first two goals came after set pieces, something he warned of and worked on in detail in training last week.
"We worked on them on Thursday (in training), and we talk all the time about winning first contacts and seconds," he said.
"Everyone knows their jobs, but we didn't deal with it. There has been spells where we have conceded two or three goals soon.
"It is sloppy errors but I had not seen the team go under, but I did on Saturday."
He added: "I don't want to make any rash judgments but it looked like we caved in a little bit.
"With one ball, it looked like they could get in at will. For whatever reason, we are not handling it very well."
Telford host Stockport County tomorrow night (kick-off 7.45pm), looking to break their home hoodoo.
