Mark Cooper: AFC Telford need six wins to survive
Angry?AFC Telford United boss Mark Cooper has told his players they must be 'mentally stronger' after their disappointing 3-1 home defeat to Hyde.
The newly-appointed manager saw his side thrust further into the Blue Square Premier relegation mire last night following their fourth straight defeat.
Cooper was particularly critical of the Bucks' defending, which undermined what had been a promising start to the game.
The defeat, against a side that had previously taken just one point from five games, leaves the Bucks two points adrift of safety having played significantly more matches than the sides immediately above them.
It also leaves them without a win in 19 league games and Cooper said his team would probably need to win six of their remaining 13 matches to stay up.
But Cooper added that they will not be able to halt their dismal form if they continue to concede 'soft' goals.
He said: "We seem to gift players a goal so, no matter how you play, if you keep conceding goals like that you are never going to win a game.
"It's not lack of effort or endeavour. I think it is a mental weakness more than anything that they come under a bit of pressure, cave in and give a goal away.
"Some of the play, especially in the first-half, was really good and we probably deserved to be in front and then out of nowhere we end up 1-0 down.
"I said to the players I think they need six wins, so all that has changed now is there is a game less to get them."
