Liam Watson forgives errant AFC Telford duo
AFC Telford United manager Liam Watson has offered an olive branch to midfielder Godfrey Poku and defender Neill Byrne ahead of tomorrow's trip to Dartford.
The Bucks chief was furious with Poku after he was sent off for the second time in four games against Southport on Bank Holiday Monday.
And he substituted Byrne at half-time, having been hugely dissatisfied with the player's display in the same game.
Watson was publicly critical of both in his post-match interview.
But he insists he will hold no grudges with either Poku, who is facing a four-match ban following a spat with striker Richard Brodie, or Byrne who remains in his plans for the weekend.
He said: "I have actually got to try to help Godfrey through this situation. I was upset and I don't think he should have reacted.
"But at times you forget he is a young lad, he has never really had disciplinary problems before."
Poku's first sending-off came in the Bucks' opening game at Welling, following bookings for a late challenge and a handball.
He grabbed the ball believing he had been awarded a free-kick, after appearing to be fouled.
Watson said: "I don't think he should have been sent off at Welling but I think he deserved to go off on Monday.
"I can understand why he reacted, but that is where he needs to have a little bit of thought into the game.
"We can't afford for him to miss four games in one go."
On Byrne, he added: "He was really poor on Monday. I thought his performance was shocking.
"However, he is a 21-year-old centre-half and he started 40 games out of 42 last season.
"I don't know where Monday came from. He just switched off a couple of times and it killed us."
