Bradford (Park Avenue) aim to be fearless after goal drought

The Horsfall side have lost all three Northern Premier League Premier Division games they have played so far under the Macclesfield Town legend, but just as alarmingly, they have failed to score a goal since he took charge in mid-December.

The relegation picture could well change for Avenue, given one of their rivals for the drop, Marske United, had to withdraw from the league earlier this week due to not being able to raise the required funds to continue competing in the division this season.

But that remains up in the air until an upcoming NPL meeting, and regardless, Whitaker knows his side have to improve ahead of this afternoon’s vital league game at mid-table Morpeth Town.

He told the T&A: “The (1-0) defeat to Guiseley on New Year’s Day was the most disappointing game of all three since I’ve been here, because of how ineffective we were going forward and how we just weren’t aggressive enough or on the front foot.

“We have to go on the attack now, because we can show we’re much better than this.

“I’ve told the lads we’ll change the way we play and think about games going forward now.”

Asked to expand on that, Whitaker said: “We just need to be more fearless and better in possession.

“We need to be aggressive all over the pitch, win the ball high up the field, and take more risks.

“I felt we couldn’t do that when I arrived, given the position we’re in in the table, because I didn’t want us to be giving goals away by taking those risks.

“But now I’ve seen the group and got to know them more, I think that more fearless approach, and not being scared to go for it, will suit them better.”

Someone who was exempt from criticism against Guiseley was Avenue keeper Tom Scott, who was currently on loan at the club from FC Halifax Town.

He made some sensational saves to keep the visitors out, and was only beaten by a stunning long-range piledriver from Reece Kendall midway through the first half.

Tom Scott was Avenue's best player in the New Year derby against Guiseley, but even he was powerless to stop Reece Kendall's sensational winning goal. (Image: Martin Taylor.)

Scott is one of three Halifax loanees currently at Horsfall, along with centre-back Ted Lavelle and forward Justin Iwobi, and Whitaker said: “Those local links, like this one with Halifax, are massive for us.

“We get lads from a higher level in to help us, while they gain first-team experience as young players trying to make their way in football.

“Justin’s only just joined us, but certainly Scotty and Ted have been excellent for us so far.

“All three of them have helped, and will help us, massively, and hopefully we’ll have a few more new lads through the door in the coming weeks.”

Whitaker has encouraged his players to focus on themselves rather than worry too much about their opposition in Morpeth this weekend, but the Avenue boss did take the time to express his sympathy for another rival in Marske.

Having experienced what the North-East side are going through first-hand with Macclesfield Town and subsequent phoenix club Macclesfield FC, Whitaker said: “It’s just a feeling of devastation.

Danny Whitaker is well placed to speak about Avenue's (now former) relegation rivals Marske, having experienced similar turmoil at Macclesfield a few years ago. (Image: Freelance)

“When your club is in a really bad place like that, you’re still hoping it doesn’t come to this.

“I hope things get fixed for them because it’s not nice to see, especially when you’ll have a lot of people who’ll have worked there as volunteers or on the committee for years.

“But I’m a big believer in everything happening for a reason, so I hope this is actually a step in the right direction for Marske and that they’ll be able to build themselves back up again from a lower level.”

As for his own team, Whitaker confirmed key trio Will Longbottom (knee), Mitch Lund (shoulder) and Harrison Hopper (also shoulder) all remain out for this weekend’s game, though the former two do have upcoming scans which will hopefully bring good news for Avenue.