Robins downed by Rushall

Last night’s 2-1 defeat at Rushall Olympic left Kevin Wilson “bitterly disappointed” - and that wasn’t the only problem confronting the manager as he returned from the West Midlands.

He is also having to face up to the fact that he could be without influential midfielder Laurie Wilson for up to a month because of a niggling shoulder problem and son Ryan is also struggling with a groin injury which forced him to be replaced at half-time.

Said the manager: “I have to say that I’m concerned that we might lose Laurie for some time and that’s a massive blow because he’s a very important player to us.

“But if that’s the case, it will mean others will have to step up - and they need to do so a lot better than they have in the first two matches.

“We improved in the second half at Rushall - as we did against AFC Fylde on Saturday - but why do we have to wait until we’ve gone behind before we start to play?

“Too many of our players have under-performed in the first two matches and they need as a matter of some urgency to take a look at themselves and question the contributions they are making.

“I could have said in the summer that now we are in the Premier Division, we need more strength and experience and set out to sign in a load of new players. I didn’t do that because I have faith in the lads who won us promotion to meet the challenge at the higher level.

“I still have faith in them... but I need some evidence very quickly that my judgment is right.”

David Walker scored on either side of half-time to enable Rushall to take a firm grip on the game before substitute James Reid (pictured) pulled a goal back in added time.

Said the manager: “We allowed Rushall to out-muscle us and got dragged into playing in a way that’s foreign to us. They played from back to front and for some reason, we felt we had to go the same way. That’s not what we do at this football club.

“I’m not happy about a lot of things - including the fact that we’ve conceded three goals in two matches and are not creating enough chances - and individuals have put themselves under a lot of pressure to perform at Nantwich on Saturday.”