Coyne tells defence to tighten up

9:12am Thursday 3rd April 2008

PETER Coyne is calling for his defence to tighten up in time for Radcliffe Borough's biggest league game of the season.

Director of football Coyne was distraught after seeing his side concede three goals against nine men in Tuesday's defeat to Curzon Ashton, and he is demanding much better from his back line in Saturday's crunch clash with fellow strugglers Woodley Sports.

A victory over Woodley would lift Boro off the bottom of the league for the first time this season. A defeat would leave the club five points from safety with just six games left.

After keeping successive clean sheets in March victories over Rossendale and Ossett Albion, Boro have shipped 17 goals in eight games - a statistic that is worrying Coyne.

"One minute we think we have got it right at one end and we might be struggling for goals, the next minute we start scoring for fun and losing it at the other end," said Coyne.

"It's all about consistency really. We are conceding some sloppy goals at the moment, and letting in far too many at the end of games. Against Woodley we are looking for the defenders to keep a clean sheet first and foremost. There is nothing wrong with winning 1-0."

The need to tighten up is heightened by the fact that Boro could be without their first-choice strike pairing at the weekend.

Griff Jones and 33-goal striker Steve Howson both picked up knocks in the 3-2 loss to Curzon Ashton to leave Michael Oates as the only fit striker in the squad.

"Griff is definitely out for a fortnight because his hamstring went," said Coyne. "Steve took a heavy blow and he has to be doubtful too.

"To lose both of our main strikers would be a massive blow, but we can't feel sorry for ourselves. Other teams get injuries and get on with it.

"We want to keep a clean sheet and then maybe we can capitalise from the many free-kicks and corners that we win.

"We have a lot of big lads in the team, and it is not just the strikers we look for goals from. Everyone should be chipping in really."

The clash with Woodley has six-pointer written all over it, and Coyne admits it's a massive game.

"Every game is important now," said Coyne. "After blowing it on Tuesday night, Saturday has become even bigger.

"It is hard to say if it is our biggest game of the season. We don't want to go down, but we have to remember we have got two cup finals ahead of us too."

Boro, who beat Harrogate Railway 2-1 last Wednesday night and drew 1-1 with Clitheroe on Saturday, also play on Tuesday when they visit Rossendale United.

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