Rob Edwards bidding to lift 'flat' AFC Telford
Rob Edwards is focused on picking up ‘flat’ AFC Telford in a bid to halt a five-match winless run.
The Bucks welcome Tamworth tonight sitting 16th in the National League North, five points behind their visitors, writes Joe Edwards.
The boss admitted that the spirit had taken a nosedive after last weekend’s 2-1 home defeat against Alfreton.
But Edwards has seen positives from recent displays, if not results, and believes that doing the basics will help change his side’s fortunes.
He said: “It’s flat at the moment, after the loss, but we have to try to pick them up.
“We have to learn from the disappointing parts of the game.
“Football has a strange way of changing very quickly and we have to keep believing, keep working hard.
“We’ve got to match what they (Tamworth) do and we’ve got to influence the game in our favour, by doing the basics right.
“There are lots of positives at the moment but the one big negative hanging over us is the results.”
Former Wolves first-team coach Edwards knows the pressure is on ahead of tonight’s visit of the Staffordshire outfit.
His side are without a victory since beating North Ferriby 2-0 exactly a month ago. But the boss is aware of the difficult challenge that ninth-placed Tamworth, led by experienced boss Andy Morrell, present.
Edwards added: “They have got a good way about them and an experienced manager in Andy Morrell, who I know and has done well wherever he has been, really.
“He gets wins and gets his teams playing in a good fashion. We are looking forward to the challenge.
“We respect them but we are confident that we can beat anyone when we do the right things.
“It’s part of football, we know there’s always an opportunity very quickly around the corner. We have got to try and put it right.”
Striker Matt Barnes-Homer, who scored his only Bucks goal on the opening day of the season, was back in the side on Saturday.
He is hoping to keep his place for what he expects to be a physical encounter.
“We have to do the horrible stuff first, have to battle and match them because it’s going to be physical,” he said.
“I know a few of their players so it’s going to be a physical game.
“If we match the physical side and work hard, with the way we play, we’ll come out on top. We’ll have to do the horrible stuff first.
“It’s good to be back out there, although I was disappointed with the result.
“I don’t think it was deserved that we lost but it comes down to both boxes. As a team, we switch off with certain situations in games – throw-ins, free-kicks.
“We have to be more switched on as a whole, as a team, together.
“We are in a sticky situation now where we haven’t won in five and it’s about how we respond now.”
Fellow striker Marcus Dinanga has gone three games without a goal.
But Barnes-Homer added: “It’s tough for him, but as a team we all have to chip in together.
“We have to keep encouraging him to get in the box and getting on the end of it.”
