AFC Telford boss points finger at Simon Grand
AFC Telford United manager Liam Watson today held captain Simon Grand "accountable" for Saturday's dire defeat at Bradford Park Avenue.
Chris Lever is fit after a knee injury and has been an unused substitute in the last two games, watching at the Horsfall Stadium from the bench.
He may start at home to Colwyn Bay this weekend but it may not be necessarily be skipper Grand who gets the chop – Watson criticised most of his back-line after Saturday's loss.
Telford adopted a 5-3-2 formation for the second game in a row after the home loss to Harrogate Town, but the performances were poles apart.
And Grand came in for criticism from the Bucks boss after what he considered an under-par display at the Avenue.
Watson said: "The one I look as accountable for the turning of the game is Simon Grand. He's the captain and he should be setting the example for the rest of the lads.
"All of a sudden, he's mistiming headers and giving the ball away in possession. You don't expect someone who has played so many Football League games to be 'largeing it', if anything.
"Until we realise we are a scalp, we are going to get bad results."
Wes Baynes and Matthew McGinn operated as wing-backs with Grand, Neill Byrne and Dan Preston in central defence, but all could be under threat with Lever able to play in any of those positions.
Watson said: "The simple fact is we are seven games in and we haven't kept a clean sheet. If it stays that way, we are not going to do anything in this league. That's a fact.
"I went with Matthew and Wes on Saturday but, if I am honest, Chris Lever is miles better a defender than the pair of them. Neill Byrne was at fault for the second goal, too.
"I have probably got to look at myself on that one, as well. We will look at it and see if we can pick out a winning team for Saturday."
Watson offered no excuses for Saturday's defeat, saying: "I have got no complaints. You want to see people going off the pitch having spilled blood for the cause and I couldn't see anybody like that.
"There was a few who looked very, very weak. I will not make excuses for them, they are big enough and old enough to look after themselves."
