First team manager Neil Cox gave his thoughts to iFollow Iron after his side lost 1-0 away to Barrow.
United fought hard throughout the game, but it was a second-half goal from Josh Kay that confirmed the defeat.
Speaking post-match, Cox said: “I’m feeling frustrated mostly. They had a bit of possession but they didn’t really hurt us, and they were never allowed to put a lot of pressure on us. Even when we went down to ten men, they didn’t really hurt us.
“We wanted to make sure we kept the ball well - we did this for the first 10-15 minutes but without really creating anything. Then we had to make a substitution at half-time. Harrison (McGahey coming off) was just a precaution to be careful.”
He added: “He felt a little bit stiff in his hamstring, so we changed it. We altered the way we played a little, they got into the game, then they scored a goal from our throw-in, which I was disappointed about. Later the sending off (of Junior Brown for two yellow cards) comes and we chase the game. We had opportunities, but we just didn’t have that killer instinct in front of goal. We lost in the end, and I didn't feel we deserved to.
“We brought some pace on and we looked a little bit better after that, and were braver in possession, so it’s food for thought for what we do next week. We’re just lacking that bite and that killer instinct in front of goal for someone to score us a goal for the moment."
Talking about the sending off of Junior Brown, he said: "There were several issues that I was really disappointed with but it’s not for me to comment on the referee. I can only go to Junior and say don’t get yourself booked for coming together. I thought he was unlucky with the first one though."
Commenting on the substitutions made, he said: “Harrison's wasn’t pre-planned, at the end of the day we are trying to get him to 60-70 minutes at this stage. He just felt a little stiffness in the hamstring, so with Manny (Onariase) in the squad I decided to take that chance to bring him off. I didn’t want to risk him and hopefully we can get him in training and see what happens with that. Manny’s fine he’s just got a whack on the ankle. We have a couple of knocks and bruises but nothing too bad.
“Myles (Hippolyte, who also returned from injury) is fine. He huffed and puffed a little bit. I wanted to see a little bit more aggression but it’s his first game back. I played him in his favoured role in the first half but I had to change it a little bit as we were overrun in our midfield."
Looking ahead to the next game, which is at home to Grimsby next Saturday, he said: “We have Grimsby at home coming up, a local derby, and the boys will be ready for it. They know how big the next 23 games are for us, it’s not just about Grimsby next week.
“Performances have to improve; personnel have to improve. Hopefully we can get somebody in but, as I've said, it’s not easy. People are willing to do something and then change their minds,. We’re in with a couple of players trying to get something sorted out but you just never know in January what’s going to happen.”
See much more from Neil Cox and Emmanuel Onariase on iFollow Iron.