AFC Telford United are pledging to fight their way out of their slump in form, with assistant manager Larry Chambers insisting: “We can’t feel sorry for ourselves.”The Bucks’ place in the Blue Square North play-offs, which once seemed so secure, is now looking decidedly perilous after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at home to Barrow.

That was their third defeat in a row and has seen them drop to third place ahead of the coming Saturday’s trip to league leaders Kettering.

With games against play-off contenders Harrogate, Stalybridge and Burscough completing their fixture list, it is certainly not going to get any easier.

But Chambers insisted: “The last thing we need to do is get down and start feeling sorry for ourselves.

“There were some bad performances, don’t get me wrong, and there are a lot of players performing below the level we know they can.

“When people are lacking confidence, instead of taking responsibility themselves and doing things themselves, they’re looking to pass the buck.

“I don’t think any of those lads want to throw the towel in, but we were our own worst enemies.

“They’ve got to dig deep and work harder. If they really, really want it then we’ll come through this.

“The one thing our success has been built on is our defensive record and, at the minute, we’re being punished for individual errors and bad decision-making.”

Chambers has also urged a sense of perspective, pointing out how far Telford have come since winning promotion from the UniBond League last May.

Consolidation was the buzzword last summer, and their sustained promotion challenge has taken many non-League observers by surprise.

“It’s been a great season and we’ve put ourselves in a position where the expectations are massive,” the Bucks No 2 added. “We’re not giving up.”