Peters feels Maidenhead United should go 'back to basics' after AFC Totton defeat

Josh Umerah was on target in the defeat at AFC Totton. Photo: Darren Woolley

--

Magpies assistant boss Ryan Peters has said they may trial a more basic approach to matches as they look to rediscover their fine form from earlier in the campaign.

After Tuesday’s disappointing - and somewhat ill-deserved 2-1 defeat at AFC Totton - United have now gone five matches without a victory in the league, four of those matches ending in defeat. It’s a trough that’s seen the Magpies slip to 12th in the table, still only three points off the play-off places, but Peters admitted the lack of quality shown at both ends of the field is concerning at present.

Speaking after Tuesday’s loss, he asked for the players to ‘step up’ and give ‘10 per cent more’ as they go in search of a home win against eighth placed Torquay United on Saturday.

“We’re going through a tough spell at the moment,” he said.

“The effort levels were there but we’re lacking quality at both ends of the pitch. We’re letting in far more goals than we would like to and we’re not creating enough chances. It took us 25 minutes to get into the game but once we did that, it looked like we’d solved the problem, and they were penned in.

“But just finding that key moment to put the ball in the back of the net is proving tough. When that’s proving tough you’ve got to be resolute in your own box and we’re not doing that well at the moment either.

“After 25 minutes we really got back into the game. We penned them back and at that moment we were calm. It felt like everything was under control. But at the moment it’s our mistakes that are leading to the oppositions’ goals. They’re not having to work very hard for them. Whereas we’ve got to do wonders for us to score. So, at the minute it’s frustrating and we need everyone to step up and give us an extra 10 per cent. We may have to go back to basics and not be as expansive but right now things aren’t working.”