Gee slams 'soft touch' Wrens

Rainworth Miners Welfare might be taking plaudits from opposing coaches but their own manager reckons they’re a ‘soft touch’ when it comes to defending and is warning his squad he’ll kick out any players shirking their defensive duties over Christmas, writes Gordon Foster.

The Wrens beat Goole AFC 4-0 away in the Second Round of the Doodson Sport Cup on Tuesday night but Gee is still reeling from a 5-1 hammering at Sutton Coldfield Town in the league on Saturday as he prepares to counter free-scoring league leaders Coalville Town at Kirklington Road on Saturday.

Royals assistant manager Ross Thorpe paid Gee’s side a glowing tribute on Saturday, saying: "To score five against a good side like Rainworth was a bonus. People will look at the score and feel the win was emphatic but Rainworth are one of the best footballing sides we’ve faced this season. They move the ball very well, and first half, they really moved us about, especially in and around our defensive third."

Despite the praise and seeing his side bounce back at the Vikings in midweek, Gee said: "Yes, it’s nice getting compliments from opposing dug outs as to the type of football we are playing but we are becoming a bit of a soft touch when it comes to good, resilient defending and I emphasise the word 'defending' as a team.

"Too many times in games this season, when not in possession, we are playing eight versus 11, and whereas you tend to generalise as a group to remain positive, this week I’ve been more specific with individuals as to their roles and responsibilities.

"I won’t have people in the squad who are not prepared to work out of possession, no matter how technically gifted they are with a ball at their feet. We are never going to be able to compete with some clubs financially, but that’s where the comparison stops as we can compete strategically and tactically on the budget we work on, and we need to improve.

"Up to 44 minutes I would have said we played exceptionally well going forward and created numerous chances. But two unforced errors and individuals not concentrating and doing the basics right defensively meant that we were going into the second half behind. The third goal right on half time followed by two more in the second half shows why we are not higher in the league than we are. Their fifth goal was taken exceptionally well but we should be doing better with those situations.

“We have spent a huge amount of time on defending and attacking set plays and the three positive results before Saturday coincided with not conceding a goal from set plays. We now have to work hard on the training ground over the festive period. We will as we have a fantastic group of players who will take on board what we ask of them and try and be more difficult to break down in open play, especially when in possession of the ball as that’s when you are most vulnerable defensively."

Tuesday night’s game was marked by Connor Higginson’s first two goals for the club following his arrival from Grantham Town last week. Higginson had made his debut at Sutton Coldfield and Gee believes the striker and his teammates made a fresh start in meeting his demands ahead of Saturday’s Coalville clash.

Gee added: "We tweaked the formation a bit at Goole and looked a lot more solid out of possession but, with respect to Goole, they are not Coalville, and we will still have to do better this Saturday against the most potent attack in the division and rightly front runners for the title this year. But we have a terrific group of players who are willing to learn and take up the challenges we give them, and to score four goals and keep a clean sheet away from home is a terrific effort."