Analysis: Where has it all gone so wrong for AFC Telford?

They were scoring goals freely, playing attractive football.

Now, though, the Bucks cannot buy a goal.

Rob Edwards’ side have gone three league games without finding the net.

They have been toothless and relegation is certainly a lot more likely than promotion.

Saturday's 3-0 defeat at table toppers Salford City leaves them just one point – and one place – above the drop zone.

And while a few postponements over the past few weeks have not helped, the table does not lie.

Telford deserve to be where they are – 19th. So where has it all gone wrong?

There is good quality in the squad, but on too many occasions they have lacked grit – and nous. Too many times, they have lost the physical battle.

Too many times, there have been lapses in concentration.

And too many times, the players have not taken games by the scruff of the neck.

Granted, the Bucks were expected to lose at Moor Lane.

It was just the manner of it that frustrated the travelling supporters, who were in great voice throughout.

Marcus Dinanga – Telford’s top scorer so far this campaign, with 13 goals – spurned a great opening to make it 1-1 in the second half.

And the miss was emblematic of their lack of confidence.

Just like at Kidderminster Harriers on New Year’s Day, you never really believed the Bucks would win this game.

Two players made their Telford debuts. Teenage goalkeeper Ryan Schofield – signed on loan from Huddersfield Town last week – started, with Jas Singh dropping to the bench for the first time this season.

Centre-half Ryan Leak – on loan from Wolves – was also in from the off.

Elliot Newby was among the substitutes for the third straight match and second top scorer Anthony Dwyer left out of the squad altogether.

The Bucks’ new recruits were hardly tested during the first half, in which there was not a lot of quality to speak of.

Salford’s Ibou Touray hit the crossbar with an attempted cross and Jack Redshaw volleyed high and wide.

Telford’s only effort on target was a tame one, from Dinanga.

Just after the restart came the first booking of the game – Michael Nottingham going in the referee’s book for a deliberate handball.

Edwards’ men did nothing with the resulting free-kick, though, continuing to show very little as an attacking force. The Ammies started to pick things up, with Jack Redshaw’s curling shot sailing a few inches past the post, to Telford’s relief.

And a spell of good pressure saw them break the deadlock just after the hour mark – Leak putting the ball into his own net.

Redshaw then, almost instantly after Dinanga shot well over, showed the Burton Albion loanee how it is done as he rounded Schofield and slotted home to double Salford’s advantage.

Nottingham, from a few yards out, made it 3-0 in second half added-on time.

It was poor from the Bucks but the boss remains positive.

He is adamant they have still been playing relatively well recently.

Either way, Telford are in desperate need of some wins.

The clash with York City tomorrow night at the New Bucks Head is massive.

If they perform anything like they did at Salford, they will not get anything from it.