'Similar to last year' Kevin Wilkin makes "not good enough" AFC Telford admission

Successive defeats in league and cup have checked some momentum for Wilkin's troops as the Bucks yet again came unstuck against lower-league opposition.

FA Trophy elimination to Hadley, of the level below, on Saturday had the feeling of last season's dismal exit at Quorn. A couple of league rivals took advantage by climbing above Telford in the Southern Central Premier, leaving Wilkin's side in fifth, albeit with a game in hand on one or two.

As concerning as defeat for Bucks supporters was a squad of just 14 in Barnet. A couple of injuries and ineligibility issues meant a threadbare squad even giving for Friday's loan signing of Jakub Kruszynski from Mansfield. Wilkin made changes after last season's misery at Quorn and has suggested he could do so again.

“We were faced with a similar situation last season, players there that weren't good enough, and bit by bit, I needed to change them, evolve them and take them out," Wilkin said.

"Lots of that group are there today, and we are further forward than we had what we had last season, but equally, managing their game for ninety minutes and making them able to join it up and show that quality and technical ability for sustained periods is not evident enough for us.”

Telford do at least have striker Reece Styche and left-back Jordan Cranston back available to Wilkin for Saturday's home clash against mid-table St Ives Town.

Bucks supporters were upset following yet another early cup exit but the manager does not see the whole situation as "doom and gloom" - though he lamented the basic errors that have cost his side.

Last Tuesday's 3-1 home defeat to league leaders Kettering was littered with individual errors which proved costly, not least James Armson's lapse in possession to gift the Poppies an opening goal.

“It's not all doom and gloom, but ultimately, we are here to win games," added Wilkin. "I'm picking them and just need to understand where players have done well and where they have been indifferent or poor.

"Clearly, it's for me to get people up to their work and not making some of the elementary poor decisions that we make, some poor technical moments, and five and ten-yard passes that we turn over.”