St Albans boss annoyed with lack of desire in loss to Bath

A Scott Wilson penalty and a Jack James own goal handed the visitors a 2-0 win, in a game where they looked comfortable defensively.

And that was where the problem lay for the City boss, the home side's lack of a threat in the final third never put them under enough pressure.

Danny Greenslade of Bath City clears off the line as Andronicos Georgiou attempts to turn it in. Picture: JIM STANDEN (Image: Jim Standen)

"We didn’t deserve to win," said Noble. "I’m asking them how they can lose a game of football where they’ve barely had an attack? 

"Once they got 2-0 up, of course, they are going to sit in. 

"We have to do more to break teams down as it is going to happen more often. 

"I want to have the ball all of the time but you have to be productive with it. 

"It is the story of our season so far. 

"It takes a desire and an energy and a willingness to make things happen. We’ve lacked that this season. 

"It’s really frustrating to watch us. It seems like there is no enthusiasm to make things happen. 

"Teams aren’t going to give you goals and especially when they are sitting back in a low block and leading. 

"Even at 0-0, you have to work hard to score a goal. You have to want to make things happen, there’s got to be a change of pace, you have to make a tackle, take people in, make crosses, have shots – all to disjoint their back line."

The boss also admitted that there are only a few players who are performing to the standard he wants, and that means he may have to go into the transfer market.

He said: "We've got two or three players who look like they want to affect the game and look like they want to be out there and get a result for this team. 

"But like I say, you can count them with probably three fingers.

"You see them in training but it is the same players. They are working the hardest, they are listening and want to affect the game every time they take the pitch. 

"And you see the ones that don’t. 

"We are very light in numbers going forward and I know injuries have not helped that but we are a little bit light. 

"That’s frustrating as you have to play the same players who are not performing." 

Of those out injured, the two main ones are Zane Banton and George Hoddle.

And both are serious.

Noble said: "Zane will be out a while. He has blood clots in his calf which is pretty serious. 

"He’s obviously a big miss and has been one of our best players for years. 

"We are looking at months rather than weeks. 

"He wants to get on the ball and wants to affect the game and the harder the game gets, the more he wants to work. 

"It is slightly worrying when we have people who want to let the game pass them by, let the minutes tick down without trying to affect the game.

"[George Hoddle] doesn't have a fracture but it is really swollen and they’ll have to let it settle down. 

"I’m guessing it is ligament damage but he's not going to be available any time soon."

Saints head to Welling United on Saturday and Noble says three points comes first but there is no reason for not producing a positive performance with it.

The City boss said: "It’s the result that matters but I want a good performance with it. 

"If you have more good performances than not, you’ll do well. 

"At the moment, it is spells and it is becoming a theme. You can’t expect to win a game, as a player, with a good five minutes and then go missing for the next 40. 

"You have to be involved for 100 minutes these days."