‘No fight or desire’: Banbury United boss Langmead in disbelief after crushing Anstey Nomads defeat
Kelvin Langmead accused his players of showing ‘no fight or desire’ after Banbury United suffered a devastating 3-0 loss away at Anstey Nomads on Bank Holiday Monday.
The Puritans fell to a third defeat in their last four matches, dropping them down to 17th in the Southern League Premier Central standings.
The Nomads were great value for their victory as they bossed Banbury around from start to finish, with Tobias Liversedge, Lewis Gibbens and Courey Grantham on the scoresheet.
The 1-1 draw with Stourbridge just two days earlier was a step forward, however the performance at the Nomads was - at the very least - two steps back.
“I want to be methodical and fair, not overly emotional about it. But the reality is, they were better than us in every way, in every department all game,” Langmead told Puritans Live.
“They were - from word go - on top of us, not giving us a second or a moment to breathe. It was men versus boys out there, they wanted it so much more.
“We had no fight, no desire, no leadership. I’m watching things unfold that I don’t recognise in some of these lads in the way that we have set up.
“Watching those three goals back is going to be tough, because they’re so poor on so many different levels. The decision-making was poor today, topped off with poor performances.”
Langmead was highly optimistic before the season started, revealing hopes of significant progression from Banbury’s two successive 12th-placed finishes.
Yes, it’s still very early on in the campaign, but the Puritans must improve quickly before the deficit to the play-off positions becomes too sizeable.
“There’s no sugarcoating it,” Langmead continued. “There are some serious question marks and serious issues right now.
“I’m angry, frustrated and hurting because I care deeply about this football club. I had a fantastic time here as a player, I love being the manager and there are so many good people.”
The boss added: “My job as the manager of this football club is to find the answers to that and that starts right now.”
Banbury now have a week off league action as they play host to Exmouth Town in the FA Cup first qualifying round this Saturday, September 5.
It’s hoped the FA Cup fever can help reignite some belief and confidence in the group ahead of the Puritans’ next Southern League fixture, at home to Leiston on September 12.