Whitaker slams defence as Macc hit for six in Cup
MACCLESFIELD FC manager Danny Whitaker has slammed his side’s performance in their disappointing 6-4 Emirates FA Cup defeat at Squires Gate.
In front of a record crowd at the Brian Addison Stadium, the Silkmen got off to the perfect start after just three minutes when forward Aaron Dwyer put his side in the lead, converting from close range.
However, their joy was short-lived as defender Ekow Coker was shown a red card, having being adjudged to have committed a foul as the last defender.
Things went from bad to worse as the hosts scored a quick-fire double through Kieran Feeney and Josh Westwood with less than 20 minutes on the clock.
Despite being down to 10 men, Macclesfield went into half-time level as Dwyer notched his second goal in the 40th minute, netting a magnificent half-volley to make it 2-2.
Early in the second half, Kielen Adams then put the Silkmen ahead, firing home after brilliant work from Dwyer on the right wing.
Again, two goals in quick succession was Macclesfield’s undoing as
Dean Ing grabbed a brace for Squires Gate to make it 4-3 to the home side.
Then some poor defending then saw James Boyd make it 5-3 as the game began to slip away from the Silkmen.
A Westwood own-goal made it 5-4 and gave Whitaker’s side a glimmer of hope, but Jack Iley fired home from long range to seal a dramatic 6-4 victory for Squires Gate as the Silkmen were knocked out of the cup in dramatic fashion.
Speaking after the match, Whitaker was far from impressed with his side’s defending in the match.
Speaking to the club’s media channel, he said: “At the end of the day, first and foremost there is a right way to lose a game and a wrong way to lose a game.
“We have lost it in the worst possible way because of the defensive mistakes.
“The way we defended, individually and collectively, there is so much in there for those boys to look at.
“They have got to go away and have a good look at themselves in the mirror because it is just not good enough at all. From s e t plays, open plays, we were just all over the place.” Whitaker,
was critical of his side’s ‘desire’ in the match, and when asked what he found most disappointing, he said: “Just the manner of the goals – it’s just switching off and not having that desire.
“You have got to have that desire to not let your opponents score.
“We just didn’t have that and without that you are going to be up against it.
“That is what football is all about. If you don’t have that then you are not going to be here very long. You are not going to play at this level for very long because that is what you need in football – you need to have that desire, that will to not want to concede goals, to make it difficult for your opponents.
“They [Squires Gate] have come out here today and given it a right go and we have given them goals because we have been lazy.”
Whitaker didn’t pin the defeat solely on the early red card to Coker, who was dismissed with the score 1-0 to the Silkmen.
Whitaker added: “We were well in the game after he got sent off – we scored, had periods in the game where we make it look like it was 11 v 11.”
Macclesfield have now conceded ten goals in their two away outings so far this season.
On that record, Whitaker said: “We had this inquest after the Winsford game, we couldn’t reiterate it enough in the dressing room and in training in the days after.
“These away games like this, that it all it is going to be about so you have got to stand up and be counted.”
Whitaker also revealed that there were some strong words said in dressing room after the match.
He said: “There was a few words said in the dressing room after the match – which was justifiable because you can’t come out and defend the way we defended and concede the goals we conceded.
“At least make the opponents work for a goal and work hard – and we just didn’t do that.”
Macclesfield now get ready for a trip to the Silentnight Stadium to face Barnoldswick on Saturday, before returning to the Leasing.com Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday in a 3.00pm clash against Congleton Town.
On that upcoming fixture against Barnoldswick, Whitaker said: “Another away day – it’s going to be exactly the same as this today, which is what every away game will be like.
“So they [the players] have got to stand up, be counted, go away, look in the mirror, come back and see if they are up for it.
“Because if not, we will have to assess who we can keep and who we can’t.
“It is as simple as that.”
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