Fired up Glover addresses Poppies’ away form after another defeat at Brackley

Kettering Town boss Lee Glover reacts during his team's 3-0 defeat at Brackley Town. Picture by Peter Short

The all-Northamptonshire clash saw the Saints hit top spot in the Vanarama National League North as an impressive display saw them cruise to a comfortable victory.

The defeat resulted in the Poppies dropping back down into the bottom four with their lowly position mainly being due to their poor record on the road.

Kettering have picked up just two points from a possible 27 away from Latimer Park this season and have now conceded 20 goals in their last five games, including the 6-1 defeat at King’s Lynn Town in the third qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup.

And, in a frosty post-match assessment, Glover said: “I respect the fans that travel away, let’s make that clear. I respect them.

“Brackley scored their second when we were trying to get back in the game, I have to take that on the chin.

“Chester (4-0 defeat) ran all over us, so did Scarborough (5-0 defeat) but we had three youth team players on the bench and the walking wounded playing so we did have a bad day.

“You can quote stats and I have to take it because I am the manager and I will.

“But what I am saying is that today, we have had a go, the final ball could have been better and we could have been more patient.

“But I will take the away form. I think it’s a bit unfair when you know the level of the squad we had when we conceded 11 in two games (King’s Lynn in the FA Cup and Scarborough).

“A stat is a firm number but you can milk it or spin it. We have taken four from the last two home games, can we go again? (Against Hereford at Latimer Park). That’s the question and if we don’t, I take responsibility.

“The league is brutal. We are starting to do something, we have brought some experienced players in who will help us and we are going to need them.”

Glover, meanwhile, conceded Brackley had “a bit too much knowhow” for his team.

The Poppies struggled to create chances throughout the 90 minutes as they were undone by a first-half goal from Martin Woods and James Armson’s brace in the second half.

“I thought they had a bit too much knowhow for us, if I am being honest,” Glover said.

“You can see that they have built something over a few years here. The foundation was very good and their back four is as good as I have seen a back four perform this season.

“When we had a lot of possession in the final third, there was nothing given away and it was very well marshalled by Gareth Dean.

“I am disappointed that we weren’t a bit more patient in the final third and I was disappointed with the second goal because there was no need to play that pass.

“Coops (George Cooper) has got to develop himself. I can remember managers banning that pass through the midfield, you’ve got to be through the eye of a needle. That’s a youngster thing and it’s someone developing themselves.

“I wouldn’t say we were toothless, I think we just need to have a bit more craft in the final third.

“We need to be better in the final third, if you have that much possession the goalkeeper has to be worked.

“Decarrey (Sheriff) has had a shot and we have had four or five corners after half-time but you never get a free header with their good defenders.”