Boss Rob Smith blasted the lack of mental strength in his side after seeing AFC Telford United’s woeful record against the Blue Square North’s lesser lights continue.

The Bucks went down 1-0 at Farsley Celtic last night – a result to be filed alongside other setbacks this season against the likes of Stafford, Hyde, Workington and Blyth Spartans.

Telford are now in a big battle just to hold on to a promotion play-off place and Smith was in no mood to protect his players from criticism.

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“I’m not interested in going up with that team because I’d get rid of most of them anyway, at the minute,” he declared.

“It’s my own fault for signing them – I know they’re good enough but there’s something fundamentally wrong with their mental psyche if they can’t roll up their sleeves and come away on a Tuesday night and get at least a draw at Farsley.

“We were playing three strikers against one of the worst defences in the league – no disrespect to Farsley because they deserved the win – and we hardly had a shot, we just huffed and puffed.

“Three or four players didn’t fancy being on the park but we seem to be saying that every away game. Myself and Larry (Chambers) pick the team so we’re as much to blame.

“I’ve told them I don’t really want any of them to travel to Gainsborough on Saturday,” he added. “I’d rather put 11 kids out who show me some heart and passion.

“Right now I feel like we’ll lose because it’s a place where you have to go and roll your sleeves up, and we haven’t got that in our dressing room.”

Smith rested first team regulars Gavin Cowan and Carl Rodgers, but insisted that was necessary given their recent workload and the looming schedule.

He saw right-back Lee Vaughan pick up a 10th booking of the season, meaning he will now be in line for a two-game suspension.

And a frustrating evening was capped by an early injury to on-loan midfielder Phil Trainer. The Oxford man limped off after just 11 minutes with a suspected medial ligaments injury.

“I don’t know the extent of it but it doesn’t look too good,” said Smith. “It’s a blow.”

By CHRIS HUDSON