Wellens asks for more firepower from his Ammies
RICHIE Wellens says he’s taking no notice of the League Two table as he calls upon his Salford City players to improve their record in front of goal.
The Ammies, who travel to face Crawley Town tonight, have scored only five times in their last six outings – and only seven in 11 away games under Wellens. And the boss admitted their return must improve if they are to achieve promotion.
The Salford boss told M.E.N. Sport: “We need goals from different areas and at the minute I look, and I think, ‘who’s going to score for me?’ Ash Hunter might score and Ian Henderson, you can hang your hat on him, but who else is going to get us goals?
“To get promoted, you need goals in your team, so who else is going to stand up and go, ‘out of the next 10 games, I’m going to score you five or six.’”
Winger Bruno Andrade is still yet to score in 26 league appearances for Salford since his move last January, while centre forwards Mani Dieseruvwe and Tom Elliott last found the net in the fourth tier in August 2019 and February 2020 respectively.
To combat their recent struggles in front of goal, Wellens has again changed his system – his switch to a three-at-the back formation lasting seven games – and the Salford boss revealed the reason behind his sudden change in heart.
“Ash Hunter, we want him in the team, and he can play left-wing and left-wing only. It’s very difficult to play three at the back with a left-winger (playing right wing-back).
“The club haven’t recruited to a certain system so you’re always chasing.
“If we pick a back three, we’ve got a problem, if we pick 4-3-3, then we’ve
Salford City’s Ashley Hunter
got a problem. There’s always a problem that highlights itself.”
On Saturday, a 1-1 draw with Scunthorpe United ensured Salford extended their unbeaten home league run to 18 matches, preserving their record as the only club in the EFL not to have lost on their own soil this season.
However, a point was not enough for the Ammies to remain in the League Two play-off places as they slipped to ninth with 14 games left, and Wellens admits that they need to find their form soon.
“I’m not really (taking notice). I’m looking at the top three and if we don’t get a shift on, it’s going to drift away from us,” he said. “First and foremost, we need to concentrate on trying to get a run of games together, get in the play-offs and separate the distance between eighth.
“Bradford have had a run, as have Bolton and Tranmere. We need a run. If we have a run, we’ve got every opportunity.”