Assistant manager Joe Conneely wants his young players to believe in themselves more after another frustrating afternoon at Kirkby Road.
For the second time in four days, AFC went two goals to the good at home but were pegged back by an impressive Uttoxeter side in the second half in a 2-2 draw.
And Conneely says his young side are all good players, but need to have the confidence to show it more regularly.
He said: “I think we get into a position where we should win the game, and then you gift a goal to a team and they’re going to put pressure on. We seemed to just drop and not take the game by the scruff of the neck.
“We don’t believe in ourselves to be brave and get on the ball in good areas, where we can score a third or a fourth.
“We try and give them belief, not to be scared to make honest mistakes if they’re trying to do the right things. We try and give them the confidence to go out there and express themselves in front of a good crowd and as a young player they should embrace that and enjoy it.”
He also rued their defensive errors that gave Uttoxeter a route back into the game, and said his side need to be more streetwise when they’re seeing games out.
“Unfortunately at this level, at any level, you can’t get away with it if you gift goals and gift teams a way back into the game. At the minute we’re just a bit naive and a bit shy at times to go and express ourselves, but it’ll come.”
“It’s disappointing but the position we’re in, with the injuries and suspensions, we’ve picked up two points and we’re unbeaten still. It’s a positive in that sense but really we should be on six points.”
