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North West Evening Mail
Edmo hits out at Barrow AFC defence
Last updated at 16:00, Tuesday, 22 April 2014
FRUSTRATED Darren Edmondson offered a scathing assessment of Barrow AFC’s ‘unacceptable’ defensive showing in a deflating 3-1 defeat at Harrogate Town.
UNHAPPY Barrow AFC boss Darren Edmondson felt his side didn’t defend well at Harrogate yesterday
And the Bluebirds manager insists he must inject more quality into his ranks if they are to make the next step by challenging for a Skrill North play-off place next season.
AFC ended their away campaign in miserable fashion as a second-minute header from Anton Brown, plus second-half goals from Ashley Worsfold and Dan Clayton handed the hosts three points.
“We didn’t defend very well all game to be honest – we were a little bit naïve, not mentally strong enough and we didn’t deal with their front two all game,” moaned Edmondson.
“So I was disappointed from that point of view. We’ve been able to maintain a run of results, etc, based on a very strong back-line, whether we had four or five back there, and today we were rattled a lot and it was unacceptable.
“Ultimately, they got in amongst us quite well in the first 10 to 15 minutes and we didn’t handle it very well.”
Edmondson described Barrow’s defensive display as one of the worst they have produced since he took charge in December.
“We didn’t organise each other, we didn’t communicate with each other and we went into our shell at certain times,” added Edmondson.
“But we should have been better in attack as well.
“So it’s food for thought because in certain games we have come up a little bit short and that’s why we’re looking to improve the group.”
Barrow sit 12th in the table and while their excellent general revival under Edmondson’s leadership has seen them rise from bottom place, they have won just one of their last 10 games.
Edmondson said: “I think that ultimately you finish in the league table where your standard is – the league table doesn’t lie after 41 games.
“So we’re probably a mid-table team, that’s now proven. We didn’t do very well at the start of the year.
“We improved for three or four months, but we aren’t good enough to break into that top eight – it’s as simple as that.
“Week-in-week-out you have to maintain your standards and if you drop your standards at any level and don’t do the basics well, then you’re going to get beat.”
When specifically asked if he needs to add more quality to his squad, he added: “Of course we have to, we are 12th so that shows that we aren’t good enough to breach that top eight.
“So the look-out started from when I arrived and we’ve just got to keep that going and try to find players who want to come for the right reasons and then try to integrate them.”
Edmondson wants to retain the nucleus of his current squad with six players already agreeing to sign one-year deals. But the groundwork to recruit players from rival clubs continues.
“In the next weeks there will be a lot of players who will become available,” said Edmondson.
“So we’ll look down those lists and speak to other managers, and so forth, about who is getting let go elsewhere and then we’ll try to put a list together that we feel can push us into the top eight or top six.”
But those Barrow players who do not land new contracts could be given the chance to earn an extended stay in Furness during the summer.
“It might be the case that one or two come back to train with us in pre-season – I’m sure everybody will be keen to stay but we’ll lose some, I’m sure of that,” added Edmondson.
“But the ones who want to be here, will be here, and the ones who we want to stay, I’m sure they’ll stay with us.”
First published at 15:56, Tuesday, 22 April 2014
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