Jim bemoaning technical issues
HATTERS boss Jim Gannon was left “very frustrated” after his side endured a mixed bag in their Bank Holiday weekend double header.
The Hatters saw off struggling Gainsborough on Saturday through a solitary Jason Oswell strike, before an injury-hit County side suffered a 3-1 reverse at Tamworth on Bank Holiday Monday.
The loss at the Lamb Ground leaves Gannon’s men nine points off the pace in the National League North after the opening month of the campaign – and Gannon admitted that his side’s errors are proving costly in County’s hunt for promotion.
The Hatters were without five squad members for the trip to the Midlands, with Stephen O’Halloran, Harry Winter, Gary Stopforth, Ben McKenna, and top goalscorer Jason Oswell ruled out but Gannon refused to look for excuses in his depleted side’s defeat.
“I think the game was very tight for long periods – but we lacked any real threat from corners or set plays, and when you add that to the mistakes we made at the back, we’re leaving ourselves open to conceding goals.
“I’m not going to use the injuries as an excuse we’ve got Matty Warburton, who’s not injured but couldn’t deliver the ball into the right areas. Chris Smalley isn’t injured, but he’s put a clearance right at the feet of their striker to score.
“Michael Clarke isn’t injured and he’s tripped a player for a penalty.
“We know it’s a hot day and we know it’s physically and mentally challenging after the game on Saturday, but ultimately the cracks and weaknesses in those selected came to the fore (on Monday).”
Darren Stephenson struggled to make an impact at The Lamb Ground - although Gannon sympathised with the County attacker, who was left isolated for large spells.
Gannon instead looked at Stephenson’s teammates, admitting that the former Tranmere man had his work cut out as the lone striker, with County’s “poor technique” costing his side dearly.
“We dumped a lot of long balls on Darren, which went against what we were asking him to do.
“I’ve always said that without technique there are no tactics – we knew what Harrogate did to Tamworth on Saturday in a 3-0 win, and the idea was to get our wingers and full-backs doubling up down the flanks and allowing Darren that space in behind.
“Instead we played a lot into Darren’s feet with his back to goal, up against three centre-backs and then it’s always going to be a struggle. The technique was poor, with the overhit crosses, the long balls straight towards the goalkeeper, and it’s cost us in the end.”
Without the experience of the likes of defender O’Halloran, captain Harry Winter and influential midfielder Gary Stopforth, Gannon added his side “lacked real leadership”, despite taking an early lead through Sam Minihan.
Minihan’s fourth minute strike was overturned by a Bradley Reid leveller and a Reece Styche double, handing County their first defeat after taking the lead since a 2-1 reverse against Bradford Park Avenue last November.
Bradford are the visitors to Edgeley Park this weekend - and Gannon is looking forward to having all five unavailable senior players back in contention.
The Hatters boss wasted no time in firing a warning shot to his side, claiming that a number of first team players were in the side “by default” due to the injuries at Edgeley Park and added that any of his players who looked to be “comfortable” due to previous form would be the first to make way.
“The frustrating thing about the Tamworth game is that if it was even just one day later, we’d have had the likes of Jason Oswell and Ben McKenna available.
“They both suffered injuries as a consequence of the goal against Gainsborough, but we’ll have them both and the likes of Stephen O’Halloran and Harry Winter fighting fit for the weekend - and we’ll have Gary Stopforth available too,” Gannon added.
“We’ve got some players in the side by default due to the injuries and fitness of certain other players, and any of them who think they’ll stay in the side based on reputation or what they’ve done last season should realise that they won’t - they’ll be in the side based on hard work and doing what we ask of them.”