Widnes manager Michael Ellison has admitted that they need to become a stronger force at home after Kidsgrove Athletic inflicted defeat on the Whites.
They remain at the foot of the Northern Premier League West table following their 2-1 defeat but didn’t lose ground on their pursuit of safety as the bottom seven lost in their respective games.
Widnes have their second successive home match this weekend when they host Glossop North End. A win could see them move level on points with second from bottom, Ramsbottom United – who host City of Liverpool, also in the bottom four.
Whilst there was a slight positive to Saturday’s defeat, Ellison felt the defeat was an opportunity missed to take advantage on the teams above dropping points.
He told Off The Park: “That was the bonus, obviously you’re down because you’ve lost but then you see the teams around you haven’t won so we have got away with one. But I tend to look at it from the other side of the coin, it’s an opportunity missed.
“There’s plenty of games left but we’ve got to start taking our opportunities sooner than later, we’ve had them opportunities, Clitheroe at home, Workington, we should’ve beat them, these opportunities come around and sooner than later you’ll run out of those.
“We’ve got to take the bull by the horns, got to be better, we’re at home against Glossop – I know they’re not in great form at the minute – they’re a good side, organised, anyone can beat anyone, we’ve got to concentrate on Glossop and try find a way to get a result.
“It’s another big game at home on Saturday.”
This weekend gives Widnes an opportunity to bounce back from their recent disappointment. But the Whites manager has noted a worry after the defeat to Kidsgrove
He explained: “Certainly the first 60 minutes, the first-half we were second best. We played the same system as they did and they just played it better than we did and I thought they were better in every department without creating the chances.
“We concede after six or seven minutes again, it’s a poor goal from our point of view, we just don’t react quick enough or that may be the reaction that we are reacting and not being proactive.
“It’s easily avoidable then you give yourself a mountain to climb, second-half you come out and have a go – they scored against the run of play – but it’s almost like we go a goal down and kick into gear which is something we’ve got to address quickly, disappointed in the performance.
“We got a goal back then we had an outstanding chance with Will Jones, I think he knows he could do better then you get to 2-2 and you don’t know what can happen late on.
“All in all, you look at the game in total, we didn’t do enough to get anything out of the game, if we nicked a draw, I’m not sure they could’ve moaned but they came and it was a really good away performance by them.
“It was more workmanlike and they were better in every department without being great and that’s becoming a worry, teams are coming here and not having to play out of their skin to get a result – that’s something I’m disappointed in.”
