Shropshire Star

Gavin Cowan: AFC Telford need to find cutting edge

AFC Telford United need to discover their cutting edge in the final third of the field to kick-start another run in the National League North, according to boss Gavin Cowan.

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The Bucks chief watched his side slip to a second successive defeat at high-flying Altrincham on Saturday.

The Bucks went six games unbeaten prior to last week’s defeat at home to Bradford PA – and after Saturday’s loss at Moss Lane Cowan called for his side to start turning possession into chances and goals.

He said: “I feel we dominate in and out of possession but have had no real cutting edge and what we need to bring now is that cutting edge.

“We’ve got the players to do it, we have players with a history of being clinical.

“Someone said to me recently, look after the performances and the results will look after themselves and I think that will come.

“We aren’t being outfought and it isn’t like the opposition are better than us, but there are areas that we need to be better in.

“Defensively we were not as reliable as we have been, we were jumping in and making rash challenges.

“That isn’t needed when you’re up against a team that is doing well away from home. For some reason the lads’ belief has deserted them. The performances aren’t bad but the results need to improve.”

Cowan also admitted he was hard on his players after last week’s defeat to Bradford Park Avenue, and it has prompted him to change part of his management.

He added: “Last week I apologised to the lads because afterwards I said they’ve let themselves down, but looking back I realised they didn’t.

“I was just disappointed, and it is a good development for me because I know I can’t be so rash, that is why I haven’t spoken to the players straight after and have given myself time to take the game in.”