Wilson calls for ruthless streak

Kevin Wilson is urging his players to find their shooting boots when we get back to the ‘bread and butter’ of league action tomorrow when Witton Albion visit the New Manor Ground.

The Robins clinched a 1-0 FA Cup victory at Coalville Town last weekend, but could have made their passage through to the second qualifying round much simpler had they made the most of a number of second half opportunities.

It has largely been a similar story in the season so far with just five goals having come in seven games played, although we have performed well at the back in that same period, conceding just seven times.

“There’s no denying I would like to see us score a few more goals and put sides away when we have the chance,” said Wilson.

“Hopefully everyone has taken a lot of positives from last weekend’s win at Coalville and we can get the three points to move us up the table.

“When you don’t, it always puts that little bit more pressure on the back four to do their side of the job. It makes it that bit more anxious when the chances don’t go in.

“But scoring goals is so often down to confidence and I’m sure that once one or two start going in, it is going to make things a whole lot easier.”

More injuries problems face Wilson with the likely absence of experienced striker Gary Ricketts (ankle), Russell Cooke (thigh) and Greg Pearson (knee), while Jack Watts (hamstring, pictured) is also a doubt.

But at least Joe Maguire is back in contention having recovered sufficiently from a groin problem to be in the matchday squad.

Wilson said: “You can’t use injuries and changing the team around as an excuse for us not having as good a start as we’d have liked to.

“I personally don’t think anyone has outplayed us - and that has been reflected in the scorelines - but we simply have not been quite good enough on some days to win.”

In contrast to the majority of sides at this level, Witton are well-known for a passing style of play, similar to ours, which should make for an intriguing afternoon.

“They do like to play it on the ground and we are going to have to deal with that, just like we have to deal with teams who are physical and like to play it long,” said Wilson.

“Every game is different and, as always, it’s up to us to adapt.”