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Page last updated at 16:50 GMT, Wednesday, 20 January 2010

Alfreton assistant boss O'Neill demands ruthless streak

Blue Square North

Assistant boss Russ O'Neill says Alfreton Town must develop a ruthless streak if they are to finish in the Blue Square North play-off places.

The Reds conceded a late equaliser as they drew 1-1 with lowly Solihull Moors on Tuesday and O'Neill was not happy.

He said: "We are massively frustrated because it's two points dropped.

"We were excellent in the first half and carved out four or five very good chances but the game should have been dead and buried."

Liam Hearn put Nicky Law's side ahead just after the half-way point of the opening period but Indy Khela levelled in injury-time following a long throw-in.

We have to be aiming for two points a game to the end of the season to have any chance of the play-offs
Reds assistant boss Russ O'Neill

O'Neill added: "After creating and not taking further chances, you are always susceptible to a counter and that's what happened in the end.

"To be totally honest, we tended to go too long, too early in the second half with the wind behind us.

"We have got to be far more ruthless at both ends of the pitch. And it's not just the taking of chances, we need clean sheets as well, we needed to get the ball away from our end of the pitch and paid the price for not doing so."

The result leaves the Reds in sixth place, one place outside the play-offs. O'Neill said his side now face a tough ask to secure a play-off spot.

"We have to be aiming for two points a game to the end of the season to have any chance of the play-offs," he said.

"We have now got to pick ourselves up and go to Vauxhall Motors this Saturday and get something there.

"We have told the players that the season starts again now. Everybody gets carried away with looking at the league table up to Christmas, but that counts for nothing. We have got all the hard work to do between now and the end of the season."



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see also
Alfreton swoop for midfield duo
19 Jan 10 |  Non League
O'Neill wants Alfreton Town run
17 Dec 09 |  Non League


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