Critics get short shrift (24.03.06)

MAGPIES boss Carl Taylor came in for some harsh criticism from the terraces at York Road on Saturday, after his side slipped to a 3-2 defeat against midtable Dorchester Town.
However, the manager leapt to the defence of his players and his tactics, blaming the defeat on a couple of basic errors at the back.
He said: “I wasn’t overly displeased. It’s all about performance levels and I thought we played okay.
“If we’d played like that against Carshalton we would have won.
“And Dorchester are in good form at the moment. They’d just beaten Cambridge and Yeading and that gives you confidence going forward.”
Most of the criticisms have focused on Saturday’s out-and-out attacking formation, saying that playing two wingers had left the midfield exposed.
However, Taylor disagreed, saying: “I don’t think you would say that if you watched the video.
“People say we were swamped in midfield, but we weren’t in the second half.
“We had the same two players in midfield and we had much more of the ball.”
Taylor also cited the strong easterly gale which was whipping down the pitch from the York Stream end, saying: “The conditions weren’t helpful in the first half.
“It was very, very windy, and when you’re playing into that you really feel it.
“Your game shortens and it all becomes much more difficult.
“So I don’t think it was our attacking line-up that cost us the game.
“Looking at the overall performance we weren’t bad. But defensively we were shocking. All three goals were poor.
“But if we can sort that out, and if we play as well as we did on Saturday, we can go to St Albans and maybe get a result.”
Commenting on tomorrow’s (Saturday’s) trip to Hertfordshire, Taylor said:”I rate them as the best team in the league.
“They haven’t lost at home since November and everyone has written us off, so we’re going there with nothing to lose. So I’m looking forward to it.
“I’m sure we have enough for them to think about. We have enough firepower and we will score, it’s just a matter of how we defend.”
Taylor’s options may be limited, as he explained: “I’m hoping Nathan (Bunce) will be fit this week. But Yash is still out injured, as is Nana. Steve Dell should be fit for Saturday hopefully, after being kicked in the Welling game.
“We have 13 fit players, but I might have to bring in another defender because we’re so short.”
Brendan Gallen made a rare appearance in the second half on Saturday, and produced a faultless display.
Taylor admitted: “He was fantastic.”
However, despite his manager’s words, Gallen’s lack of availability to train and play in midweek has severely hampered his chances of selection this season, although the fans will be hoping that is not the case this week.
Taylor’s attacking options are also limited, but the York Road supremo was confident new signing Neville Roach could deliver the goods, saying: “It was hard for Neville on Saturday, but I’m sure he’ll be better this week.
“He’s quality.
“And he did make one of the goals, and put a shot just over the bar.”
Saturday’s defeat may have sent United back to the foot of the table but Taylor remains pragmatic regarding the way forward.
He said: “We just have to handle it.
“Sometimes you lose and you’re alright, and sometimes you lose and you’re not.
“But it’s a long way from over. We’ve got a lot to do, but we’re going to do it.”