Clinical touch is key to survival
MACCLESFIELD Town manager Sol Campbell says his side need to be more ruthless if they are to stand any chance of avoiding relegation this season.
The Silkmen are back in the relegation zone after two straight defeats, including a 3-1 loss away from home against Mansfield Town on Saturday.
It has left Macc second bottom and two points from safety, and Campbell hopes his side can bounce back in this weekend’s game against Crewe Alexandra.
“We’ve got to put Saturday behind us, big time. The main thing is we’re creating chances, but we just have to stick them away,” he said.
“I want a little bit more, because we had the chances against a top team in Mansfield. If they had our chances they would have won 5-1, and that’s it really. We’ve cre- ated some fantastic opportunities, but we just need to be smarter in front of goal.
“We’re working hard with the guys. We just need to calm the mind, and be cool and collected. We’ve just got to keep working hard on the field and make sure we look at every single detail.
“We lost and that’s how it is. Good luck to Mansfield in their title and promotion charge, but really we have to look at ourselves and say we’ve played a top team and we really should have come away with something.
“We all get our chances in the game, as a team we just need to be more ruthless in front of goal. We need to make sure the goalkeeper has no chance.
“We’re building a strong team and we’ve got a lot to learn from this type of result on Saturday. We need to be a bit more determined in our half, especially with set-plays because we’ve sloppy goals.”
There were debuts for two of the Silkmen’s signings in the January transfer window, with both Brice Ntambwe and Botti Biabi appearing, and Macclesfield boss Campbell was impressed with the duo.
“I think Brice played really well, he broke up the tackles and he gives us that physical presence. He is a good passer and I quite like that,” he said.
“Botti had just come in on the Friday so he’s feeling his way into the side. We’ve got some more guys to come on as well.
“We were without Harry Smith and Koby Arthur as they’re both injured. Koby’s issue is his thigh and Harry’s is his hamstring. Harry is a big part of us.”
This weekend’s opponents Crewe are 11th in the table, having won their last three matches. Victory for Macclesfield could see them climb out of the relegation zone. let in