Magpies fail to heed Dev’s words of encouragement
Maidenhead United failed to heed Alan Devonshire's half-time words of encouragement as they fell to another disappointing National League defeat on Saturday.
The Magpies were only trailing 1-0 after an even first half against Barnet FC on Saturday, and Devonshire and his coaching team urged the players to stay in the contest and not give any cheap goals away. But instead of showing defensive diligence in the opening stages of the second half, they conceded twice more in the first 10 minutes and left themselves staring down the barrel of a fourth straight league defeat.
Speaking to the club’s media officer, Grace Scott, Devonshire said: “I went in at half-time and said to them ‘let’s try and be patient, pass the ball a bit sharper, and make sure we don’t concede within 10 minutes’.
“They listened to me but we’re three down in 10 minutes.
“To be fair, the first half was even. I’ve got to look at the goal again, but I don’t know if Rhys (Lovett) could have done better from the distance – it was a good strike.
“We’re just struggling defensively at the moment as a group, and we’ve got to change it quickly.”
Maidenhead's preparation for the game – their first since November 20 – was hardly ideal, with the club hit by a COVID outbreak and forced into a period of isolation. Several players contracted the virus, including French defender Remy Clerima, who was handed a start at The Hive but failed to perform to his usual standards.
“Remy was one of the boys that had it and since he’s come back, he doesn’t look right,” he said.
“He has held his hand up today and [admitted] he didn’t play great today.
“But he has had this COVID, and he is suffering from it.
“Ryheem (Sheckleford) is not fit at the moment, so it was needs must [for Remy to play] really.
“There’s a few boys that have had it and in the coming weeks, it’s something I’ve got to look at.”
Speaking ahead of Tuesday's crucial game at Southend
United, Devonshire added: “That’s one good [thing] about this league – you’re playing games all the time.
“We’ve got a long way to go and we’re not going to panic with things.”