Busby believes City are on the up

Despite bowing out 2-1 to a sickening last-gasp extra time goal in the the Gladwish Land Sales Conference Cup at the third regionalised round Busby believes City are on the up.

He said: "We've defended well all over the pitch and we've learnt they can do it two or three games on the bounce and that's what you're asking for - to be consistent.

"I've told them I can't have any complaints. I couldn't say to them that you didn't do this, you didn't do that.

"I speak the truth and I give them all the credit because they've worked their socks off and were so unlucky not to come away with at least getting a chance in a penalty shoot-out.

"But that's unfortunate and that's the way football is. It goes all the way through to the end of the 90 minutes or the 120 minutes and we just lacked a little bit of concentration in the last minute or so."

He continued: "I'm disappointed for them that they've conceded a goal right at the end and they are disappointed, you can tell.

"But their effort, and commitment and attitude to the game - as it was last Saturday - was tremendous.

"Now I know they can do it therefore if they don't do it in future, it means you can say to them 'what's happening here? - because you've done it two or three times - keep it going'. And if they keep it going and work like that then we're going to be a hard side to beat."

The game looked destined for penalties when Jonathan Smith cancelled out Andy Bishop's opener until Lee McEvilly struck with less than a minute of extra time to play.

But Busby is hopeful his charges will be able to turn the mistakes that cost them the game into positives for the rest of the season.

He said: "The young lads at the back have got to learn that the game doesn't finish until the referee blows his whistle."

Bishop was withdrawn on 80 minutes as a precautionary measure to avoid further damage to a slight knee niggle, but it is not thought to be serious.

Updated: 10:49 Wednesday, January 26, 2005