Shropshire Star

AFC Telford cannot feel sorry for themselves, says Rob Edwards

Boss Rob Edwards has warned AFC Telford United not to feel sorry for themselves as they look to break their home curse tonight.

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Telford, who have lost all five National League North games at the New Bucks Head this season, host Stockport County.

And the Bucks chief is well aware of the need to give a disillusioned fanbase something to shout about.

"We go again and we have to pick ourselves up, there is no other way around it," said Edwards.

"You can't just feel sorry for yourselves and then lose again.

"We have to look at why and try to pick a team to try and get a result from the game.

"We can't feel sorry for ourselves, there is no other way, we have to go again."

While Telford's home run is a big worry, perhaps of greater concern is the fact they have gone on to lose every game they have conceded a goal in this campaign.

After 10 fixtures, they are 15th in the table and their away form has been their saving grace so far, winning four out five.

Visitors Stockport are three places better off having picked up two more points.

They are fresh from a 2-0 loss at York City on Saturday, while the Bucks suffered a 5-1 home thrashing at the hands of Harrogate Town.

Summing up how things have gone on at home recently, Edwards said: "To be 1-1 (on Saturday) and looking right in the game in the first half, to pretty much really caving in like that the second half – it baffles me a little bit.

"I have got to try to make some sense of it.

"We did not win enough second balls, did not compete, did not stop crosses and did not pick up in the box. It is the basics."

Edwards stressed tonight's game comes too soon for injured trio Jack Rea (ankle), Aaron Simpson (hamstring) and Matthew Barnes-Homer (hamstring).

Although sent off after two bookings against Harrogate, Connor Johnson is available as FA rules state, from step two of non-league and below, red cards commence on the seventh day following the match in which the player was sent off.

When asked if he ring the changes after Saturday's drubbing, Edwards added: "I'll have to have a look at it, look at Stockport and assess what we need to do."