Is Matt Taylor Feeling The Pressure At Wealdstone? – Opinion

Wealdstone boss Matt Taylor will be feeling the heat a little more this week after yet another weekend without a win.

The Stones are currently on a run of seven league games without a win and although they are unbeaten in their last four matches the club are still to break out of the bottom four.

Taylor and his side last tasted victory over a month ago against AFC Fylde, their only win so far this campaign, but since then the Stones have failed to make any inroads into the sides above them.

On paper the recent results do give the ex-Walsall and Shrewsbury Town head coach a better look, creditable draws away at Forest Green Rovers and FC Halifax have though been tempered with poor home form.

Local rivals Barnet came away with a recent 3-0 victory whilst Southend United took away a point with both sides scoring in stoppage time, the Stones leading only to concede another late goal.

Ill discipline cost them at The Shay on the weekend, red cards for Adrian Mariappa and Jayden Mundle-Smith left Wealdstone hanging on instead of taking the three points back South.

Taylor’s appointment in the summer did raise a few eyebrows across the game, a lack of managerial success in the EFL but until now no knowledge of the National League which seems a prerequisite to survive.

Recruitment was a mixture of experienced players at this level blended with young talent to take a chance upon. The likes of Mariappa, Enzo Boldewijn, and already present Alex Dyer have been fully involved, injuries have robbed them of some of the younger talent, Mundle-Smith only just returning to the side and now ready to serve a suspension.

They are lacking a goal scorer, only Hartlepool United and Braintree Town have scored less than the Stones, and on three goals Callum McFarlane has scored a third of their current total.

Defensively in comparison to those around them they are in better shape  only a couple of points away from moving outside the relegation zone but the longer the run without a win continues the further away it seems.

One of the few clubs remaining who are not full time in the division, every scrap and ounce of flesh has to be exerted to keep afloat, the experts in this field Maidenhead United are showing signs that they are ready for another battle to maintain their status.

Around the Stones both Ebbsfleet United and AFC Fylde have dispensed with their starting managers, the former in Harry Watling yet to see the new manager bounce and the only side keeping the Grosvenor Vale outfit off the foot of the table.

The two sides will meet at the end of October at the Kuflink Stadium, a month where Taylor will see huge opportunity to get points on the board against the likes of Yeovil Town and Braintree Town.

A break from league action comes this midweek with the mixed reaction National League Cup getting underway at Grosvenor Vale and a visit from Southampton Under 21’s.

Before they look for points against sides around them they must negotiate a tough looking away trip to Gateshead, yet with the division being mighty tighter this year and the Heed showing their own vulnerabilities in the last few weeks it’s not impossible to think the tide can’t turn and the Stones spring a little surprise.

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