Shropshire Star

Liam Watson: AFC Telford defensively better

AFC Telford United manager Liam Watson was pleased with his side's defensive improvements against Bristol Rovers.

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But he was left frustrated by his team's lack of cutting edge up front, as they went down 1-0 against the former Football League outfit.

Defender Rod McDonald was fit to make his competitive debut, having shaken off an ankle injury.

Watson lined his team up with three centre-backs for the first time this season, in a bid to tighten a rear guard that had leaked six goals in it's opening three games.

And he said: "We tried to set ourselves up as hard to beat, because I was conscious of the fact that we had conceded on average two goals a game.

"I talked before the game about playing with three central defenders and I though defensively we looked a lot more solid than we have done.

"We managed to get through the first 20 minutes, which was important to try to quiet them down and then the best chance of the half has fallen to us.

"Sam's hit the target for us and it has been saved, but really away from home I suppose they have got to go in.

"That became the turning point. I actually thought we showed them too much respect and we didn't engage enough.

"The midfield three were standing off when instead they should have been pressing which never happened.

"If you look at the goal they have scored, as much as it is a great strike from 20-odd-yards, you think could we have put more pressure on the ball?

"And that is the disappointing thing. That is the thing that sticks in your throat and after that it is hard to change when you are set up the way we were.

"The idea was to hopefully get a goal but in terms of the players I can't complain (about the effort they put in).

"I thought the work rate was fantastic, the commitment was there and if we had come away with something no one could have really argued.

"But that is football. We didn't really look a much of a threat going forward, and sometimes that happens when you are away from home.

"But if you take your chance when it falls, then when the game gets stretched you get (more) chances on the break. We didn't do that.

"We have still got to create more chances but we looked stronger defensively, we didn't give away cheap goals which we had done in the previous two games and we go again on Monday."

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