Stimson hits out at gun-shy strikers

Last updated : 16 March 2008 By Simon Head

Talking to the official website, Stimson said: "We had some good deliveries going into the box but unfortunately our strikers weren't around the ball. For some unknown reason, they were not attacking the ball and were waiting for it.

"They are told every single day in training that when the ball goes into the box, attack the ball. Don't wait for it, attack it because if you don't meet it, maybe the defender might make a mistake or score an own goal. That didn't happen and, rightly so, there were a few moans and groans from the supporters. I totally understand that."

With the game already dead and buried, Stimson finally threw on the only genuine goalscorer at the club, new signing Simeon Jackson - and his performance in the final ten minutes eclipsed anything achieved by the starting pairing of Mulligan and Facey.

"Simeon Jackson came on and looked really lively, that is the only positive I can take from today. He looked like he wanted to score and he was getting into the areas that strikers like to get into and score from. "Jacko" did that today and we need other strikers to realise that they are paid to get into that 18 yard box and be a pest. If you're physical, use your physical strength. If not, be a threat with your movement. I think Simeon Jackson showed that today. You have got to have something in your locker and I think one or two didn't show today what they have got."

With Mulligan failing to produce a single effort on goal in 90 minutes and Delroy Facey producing another ineffective performance, Stimson is likely to ring the changes for next week's match with Bournemouth, with the distinct possibility that Simeon Jackson will start up front, perhaps alongside a loan signing. Bringing in a loan striker is clearly now a big priority for Stimson after being let down by his established front two once too many.

"If there was a striker or two out there available then I would bring them in as the Chairman would let me do that. Unfortunately there isn't. We took Simeon Jackson from Rushden & Diamonds. Before he got here, he had scored 18 goals this season and he is a natural. He has come into the team here and had a decent debut despite not scoring. He had a few chances and was unfortunate. A couple of games after, he lost his way a little bit. Strikers are the guys who rely on their confidence. Once they go a couple of games without a goal, they do need that arm around the shoulder and he has had that.

"As for the others, we have got a couple of strikers who have played league football. They have got the experience and they should be able to identify what they are doing wrong and take on board what we are saying to them and think that is what they used to do and why aren't they doing it now? Today on certain occasions, still I find that when the ball goes into the box, one striker is outside the far post. That is the last place they should be and they should be near post or in the middle of the goal.

"If a striker becomes available this week, we'll try our hardest to bring him to the football club. We cannot do any more as we're on the phone ringing every manager we can. We have got people out there watching players. Unfortunately, the players scoring goals, their team won't let them go so we might have to go for a young kid in a reserve team who hasn't got the experience. It might be worth the gamble because the strikers we have given opportunities to, they haven't taken them."