Jack Rea: No excuses for AFC Telford
Midfielder Jack Rea has declared that excuses are no longer valid and it is up to the AFC Telford United squad to get themselves off the bottom of the table.
Rob Smith's men head into the key Christmas period's quartet of fixtures five points from National League North safety.
Beginning on Saturday, they face relegation rivals Lowestoft Town, Hednesford Town (twice) and Gloucester City.
Rea insists the time for playing the blame game is over and the squad must step up.
He said: "You can't have excuses any more. We're at the bottom of the league for a reason and we have to pull together.
"You can make excuses and say we've had injuries and suspensions and things haven't gone our way, but that's what happens when you're down there.
"Everything goes against you and it's the character and the mental strength to come through it.
"We need strong lads with commitment, bravery and wanting to do it for the cause and that's going to be what sees us through."
Despite defeat in Saturday's FA Trophy contest with Chester, Rea believes he saw enough for Bucks supporters to be positive.
The 23-year-old said: "I think performance-wise we've got something to work on. We showed much more heart and had a better shape than we have in the last couple of weeks.
"We're not bad players going out there, it's a case of going and showing it and getting yourself out there and I think some of us did that against Chester.
"I think a lot of us on show came in and did very well."
The Bucks are still waiting for an update on defender Liam Slade, who went off with a groin injury in the first-half against Chester. Boss Smith initially described the injury as 'bad' and 'dodgy.'
