Jas Singh happy to see AFC Telford tighten up

The 27-year-old shot-stopper goes into the New Year’s Day clash at Kidderminster Harriers having kept a clean sheet against them on Boxing Day, writes Joe Edwards.

And he feels that 0-0 draw at the New Bucks Head displayed the Bucks’ improvement at the back.

They limited Harriers – who are seventh in National League North – to very little, and Singh said: “The team is starting to look a lot more solid now.

“Players are understanding their roles better and I think that we are progressing well as a defensive unit.

“I don’t think the boggy pitch was the reason we kept a clean sheet on Boxing Day, it was because we are getting better.

“It’s the whole team – pressing from the front too.

“If we continue to keep it down to ones and zeros, we will give ourselves a chance of picking up a lot more points in the second half of the season.”

Singh joined Telford at the start of the season having developed a reputation as one of the best goalkeepers in non-league.

He shone at Gloucester City, Solihull Moors and Harriers – across two spells – after his release from Shrewsbury Town as a youngster. Singh has a lot of happy memories at Aggborough, but knows he will be Harriers’ enemy after the first whistle.

Once the final whistle is blown, attempts to put him off will stop and he will likely receive a show of appreciation from the Harriers fans – like on Boxing Day.

“It’s nice to go back there. I have already been back there, when I was at Gloucester,” said Singh.

“There was a few giving me a bit of abuse on Boxing Day but you have to block it out.

“As a goalkeeper, anyway, you get stuff like that wherever you go. It’s nothing serious.

“At the end of the game, though, they gave me a nice reception.

“And they might do again, after the game. Obviously they’re not going to be cheering me on during the game as I’m trying to keep them out. I’m looking forward to it.”

While hoping for another clean sheet, Singh wants Telford to find a cutting edge in front of goal again.

They have only scored once in their last three games across all competitions, that goal being a Marcus Dinanga penalty in the 1-1 draw at Brackley Town last weekend.

“Teams have identified that we are a threat going forward,” said Singh.

“They have been doing their homework on us, so it’s been a bit harder going forward than it was earlier in the season.

“We have to find different ways of breaking teams down.”

The draws against Kidderminster and Brackley extended Telford’s unbeaten run in the league to three games.

Singh insists the whole squad are feeling positive, and added: “We have had that straight from the outset – it is a good, friendly group.

“We all want to go and achieve something together.

“If you look at the table, it doesn’t look all that great.

“The performances have been there, though, and if we carry on in the same vein, the league table will take care of itself.”