United head coach Gary Owers had plenty to think about after watching his side go out of the Emirates FA Cup against Aldershot at the EBB.
Ex-Gull Scott Rendell’s header in the 79th minute ended United’s participation in the Cup at the first hurdle.
“Disappointing result, obviously,” said Owers after the final whistle.
“Reflecting on the performance, I thought [it was] very good at times in the first half. We fashioned more than acouple of good chances and we need to be a little bit more clinical when them chances come.
“[In the] second half, not as good as the first half by any stretch but Aldershot are entitled to come into the game and I just thought we started the second half on the back foot but we’re still in the game and look like we could still be a threat on the counter attack. As is the story of the season so far, one error, or half an error, a clearance from the goalkeeper and we get punished by a bit of quality from Aldershot.
“We’re getting beat every week and I have to take a look at that. It’s not about performances at the minute, it’s about finding something that will get us a result. We haven’t lost any points and it is obviously a different situation to the league campaign.
“We’re trying to build; we’re trying to improve. The organization of the team – you can see we’re working hard on set plays. We just need a little more belief in the final third and today it was a case that the last pass, we can’t find the last pass at the minute, we win the ball in the middle third and we break on the opposition and we force the last pass, or it goes wide and the cross can’t beat the first man. Or a couple of free-kicks out wide that ‘Youngy’ [Luke Young] hits and they’re cleared by the first man and we’re defending. They’re little things but unfortunately the little things we’re making mistakes on.
“I know what I need. I’m not foolish, I know the position we’re in, it is very serious. We’ve got 31 games left and I know how many points I need and we have to start getting them. We haven’t lost any points today; we haven’t gained any points today. We have two away games now, we’ve got to go and put some points on the board.”
Owers is looking for ways to add new players to the fold.
“I’ve got to consider that. A couple of phonecalls towards the end of the week that might materialize into something. I’m still a little bit limited [by the amount of loans]. I’ve got seven of them now, two are in the stands. If I bring in another then I have to omit another loan player. It’s a tough spell; it has been a tough season so far. I’m going to work my way through it. I will improve the situation.”