Gary Brabin was desperately disappointed with his side's first half performance at Altrincham as the eight-game unbeaten run in the league was ended by Robbie Lawton's strike on the stroke of half-time.
Despite a rich array of attacking options on the pitch, including a start for on-loan striker Scott Rendell, and three more who came off the bench, United failed to break the deadlock and Lawton's goal proved to be the deciding factor between the two sides.
Blaming his players' lacklustre first half for the defeat, Brabin made it clear that he will not accept the performance and it looks likely that there will be changes to the team for our next game.
"Very frustrating," was his opening comment to the waiting media. "I genuinely thought this was going to be the turnaround for us.
"I was excited about the forwards we had on show today, we had four attackers on the bench and it's a very attack-minded system we play. I'll take it on the chin that we're not scoring goals but what I won't take on the chin is the first half performance.
"We were very below-par and that's what lost us the game. The way we set ourselves out in the first half left us chasing the game after that, and that first half performance is not acceptable. We've got some good away support here and I'm not happy at all with the way we conducted ourselves in the first half.
"We picked it up a bit in the second half but we were chasing the game. It's frustrating not to score again but I can take that on the chin; what I won't accept is that first half performance."
Explaining his decision to start with three strikers and leave wingers Felino Jardim and Ronnie Willmott on the bench, Brabin commented, "We've got an abundance of talent and the wide lads have been creating loads of chances, but I feel sometimes that we've got to be a bit more clever to get some goals so I pulled those lads out today and I thought we had a very attack-minded side.
"We started with three up front and with four attackers on the bench, and I felt if we'd set ourselves out properly the way we should in the first half - solid, get tight to people, with Jon Challinor and Mark Convery breaking forward from midfield - I thought we'd get some goals today. But the way we set ourselves out in the first half just wasn't acceptable."
United forced several chances during the second half and in stoppage time, but the ball would not fall for the U's and the defeat ended an eight game unbeaten run in the league and saw United drop to fifth.
"It's not going for us in front of goal at the moment but, as I said, I'll take that on the chin," said Brabin. "I believe in the forwards at this club and I think we've got some good attacking players, and I do genuinely believe that goals are just around the corner.
"I should be standing here now talking about a frustrating nil-nil, but the way we set ourselves out in that first half was unacceptable and set the tone of the day. I'm not happy with it and I don't expect the fans to be happy with it."
The U's are next in action at home to Ebbsfleet United on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
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