Peters questions whether United have ‘right blend’
Assistant boss Ryan Peters questioned whether Maidenhead United have been able to get the 'right blend' of players on the pitch recently after Saturday's trip to Boreham Wood ended in misery yet again.
They are now winless in their last three National League matches having been trounced 40 by promotion contenders Wood who also announced the capture of former Magpie James Comley earlier this week.
Defender Jamie Sendles-White was thrown straight into the starting line-up after signing on a short-term deal from Aldershot, but his presence wasn't enough to prevent a heavy defeat at Meadow Park.
Defensively Maidenhead have struggled in recent weeks without centre half Will De Havilland. Ryheem Sheckleford, Remy Clerima and Shaun Donnellan have also missed games at right back meaning the Magpies have had to outscore their opponents to pick up points, something they managed in the victories over Woking and Wrexham but haven't been able to do more recently.
“At the moment, we clearly don’t have the right blend,” said Peters.
“The performances we’ve put in of late, the results we’ve picked up, something isn’t working. I don’t think any of our players go out there and purposely not put in a shift or not to put in a good display. When you are on a run like we are, the basics just become harder – it really is a slog to do that little bit more.
“When you are enjoying some good results, it’s effortless to run that extra mile for the ball and it’s effortless to make that extra tackle. Everything lately has become a little bit more difficult and it’s a bit more draining to go that extra yard.
“Our players have always been good in training sessions. We, of course, are going to push them as hard as we can to be able to replicate that on matchdays.
“We have brought in Jamie (Sendles-White) to see if he can change our fortunes. I think we will have to keep changing personnel or bring in new players until we find the perfect blend.”
Last season, the Magpies made the astute acquisitions in Danilo Orsi-Dadomo and Josh Coley, who are now excelling at league clubs Harrogate Town and Exeter City respectively. In contrast this summer's signings haven't made such an impact with Emile Acquah and Dylan Asonganyi struggling to emulate that success, with the latter yet to play a full 90 minutes. Sam Barratt and Josh Kelly have therefore been shouldering the goalscoring burden, along with Kane Ferdinand, but when they fail to find the net, it's difficult to see where the goals will come from.
“Not only have we conceded too many goals on Saturday, but we weren’t able to find that cutting edge down the other end either,” Peters added.
“We expect the application of our players to be a lot better and we expect the desire to score goals to be a lot better too.
“The gaffer (Alan Devonshire) spoke to the fans after the game and apologised for our poor performances and our run of recent results. He needed to reassure the fans that we are trying everything we can both on and off the pitch.”
The Magpies were due to welcome league leaders Chesterfield to York Road on Saturday, but that game has also now been postponed due to a COVID case within the Magpies camp.