Pool set sights on more goals

A day after making it three games unbeaten under Paul Stephenson, the caretaker boss took his squad paintballing.

Stephenson has taken five points from his three games in charge. They have yet to concede a goal in that run, but they have only scored once - Matty Robson's match-winner against Chesterfield - and goals have been hard to come by all season.

They have netted just 31 in 33 games, fewer than anyone in League One.

Stephenson has quickly got the defence working as a tight unit and, with Adam Boyd getting back to match fitness and Joel Porter set for another reserve team run-out next week, Stephenson is sure that there are goals in his team.

"We dealt with Tranmere very easily,'' he said. "We had good concentration levels and we defended well again as a group.

"Had we been a bit more clever and quicker in front of goal we could have had a goal or two.

"I think we need a little bit of attitude to shoot and take a chance in front of goal. I've told the boys not to be frightened to have a dig and we tried to get one or two across the floor in front of goal.

"The shots we had we probably hit too well, there was no scuff or dip on them and they were straight at the keeper.

"In the second half we controlled the game without really testing them.

"Adam Boyd played most of the game and that will do him good in the weeks to come. We know he's a quality player and the key for him is to get fit and develop that game awareness he has.

"His sharpness is probably missing a little bit at the moment, but that is to be expected. Saying that, he opened a lot of doors for us the other night, but we didn't walk through them.''

Physio Gordon Ellis yesterday left the club. His departure now means that all the first-team backroom staff recruited by former boss Martin Scott - coaches Steve Agnew and Kelham O'Hanlon as well as Ellis - have left the club in the last week.

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