Magpies must be more clinical in front of goal if they are to reignite play-off ambitions
Chorley boss Andy Preece has urged his men to be more ruthless in front of goal as they attempt to get their play-off bid back on track.
The Magpies have picked up just three wins from their previous 19 league games – 21 if cup games are included – to slip well out of top-seven contention in the National League North.
They are now 10 points behind seventh-placed Macclesfield in 15th spot. Indeed, they are nearer to the drop zone with only seven points separating themselves from fourth-bottom Oxford City.
On Tuesday, Preece’s men saw a hatful of chances go begging as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Victory Park to Leamington.
That result came following two successive home defeats by a single goal to Darlington and Peterborough Sports respectively.
"We just haven’t been ruthless enough in the last three games,” Preece told Chorley FC TV. "We could easily have had seven points out of nine – instead we are sitting here with one point out of nine.”
It does not promise to get any easier this week as the Magpies travel to third-placed Merthyr Town.
The Welshmen are the division’s leading goalscorers and defeated the Magpies 2-0 earlier in the season. Defender Scott Wilson could be back after missing the past couple of games while Joe Nolan maybe available despite needing an operation.
"We have got a tough trip to Merthyr on their 4G pitch,” added Preece. “I think we are leaving at 8am in the morning.
"We know that if we play to how we know we can do then we can go there and get a result. They are a very good team though. I thought they played really well when they came to Victory Park.”