AFC Telford United preview: No excuses from Kevin Wilkin as Bucks search for much-needed victory

Kevin Wilkin says there are no excuses for the errors his side have made in recent weeks, insisting more must be done to stop ‘gifting’ opponents the lead.

Telford had a miserable bank holiday weekend, suffering a 2-1 loss at Morecambe and a 1-0 home defeat to Bedford Town, and travel to Scarborough tomorrow without a win from their first six league outings.

Both games saw the Bucks concede a third-minute goal in avoidable fashion, leaving Wilkin furious and anxious for improvements.

“We’ve gifted goals away too often,” Wilkin said. “It’s as simple as that, we made a horrendous error on Monday after a few minutes and then after that most of our players had really solid games, and certainly never looked in any danger.

“The same happened at Morecambe where people didn’t track their runners, and when you allow the opposition a soft, early lead it makes it harder to get the outcome that you want.

“We’re not making our lives any easier and we have to understand that and change that. There are no excuses, we know what we need to do and it’s up to us to make sure those things improve.”

Despite those defensive lapses the Bucks boss has seen sparks of life in his side, although he acknowledged one area where major improvement is needed in attacking areas.

“I think generally we’re managing the ball well in the first and second thirds, but when we get to the sharp end of the field we’re not asking enough questions,” he said. “We’re creating chances, but I still feel that we’re passing up opportunities to create more moments in front of goal, more times where can stretch teams and I don’t think we’ve been doing that enough.

“Certainly when I compare it to last season we’re not getting on the outside of teams like we did, and I think the chances we are getting would be multiplied if we were able to do that a little bit more often.

“We lack real pace down both flanks and I’ve looked at the data from last season which tells the story itself. Of the top five players for sprints and speed from last season, three of them have left the club and two of them have spent most of the season injured.

“That’s on me, I know that I haven’t replaced those players well enough to give us that pace that we really need down either side, but it’s a real challenge in itself.

“Everyone wants pace in their side and if there were players available out there that I felt would offer something I’d bring them onboard, but often it’s young players with no experience who I’d have to guarantee game time to for the parent club to let them out on loan.

“If we’d have had Charlie (Williams) and Jamie (Meddows) fit and available this season, and Jordan (Cranston), I have little doubt we would have more points on the board.”

Opponents Scarborough have won three and lost three of their opening six games, leaving them in ninth place in the National League North.