Boss Rob Smith has issued a wake-up call to his AFC Telford United squad, insisting: “We could miss out on the play-offs altogether.”

Smith’s warning comes after the Bucks went down 1-0 at Workington on Saturday to suffer their fourth Blue Square North defeat since the turn of the year.

It leaves them in fourth place, five points adrift of new leaders Gateshead – but also looking over their shoulders as the chasing pack close in.

“Someone could go and win this league by going on a little run now, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to be us at the moment,” said Smith.

“Every time we think we’re getting there we throw a defeat in like this – I think we’ve got a battle on our hands to get in the play-offs if we carry on like this.

“All’s not lost and we’re still in with a shout, but if we go on a run of defeats then we’re going to fall out of the play-off places.

Journey

“It’s so disappointing for all the people that made the long journey to support us, because we didn’t give them anything to cheer about.”

Smith returned to a familiar theme of recent weeks as he questioned his side’s desire to win against some of the league’s lesser lights.

Key players such as right-back Lee Vaughan, centre-back Gavin Cowan and striker Andy Brown were missing through injury or suspension – and Smith felt Workington had more battlers on the field.

“They were another team that scrapped on the pitch more than we did – they wanted it more than we did and we got what we deserved,” he added.

“In the first half we created little bits and bobs but nothing amazing, and it was a lacklustre, poor performance by us.

“Mentally we’re not strong enough to go to places like Workington and get a win at the moment, and that’s a worry. We need some big characters in there.

“We need Bruno (Carl Rodgers) fit, we need Browny (Andy Brown) back in the team – people with some heart.”

By CHRIS HUDSON