HAVING attended the home defeat at the hands of Macclesfield Town I must admit that the spectre of relegation now hovers too close to be true.

The performance was dire and Chris Brass and Lee Nogan have to shoulder the blame for this, not only as coaches/management but for the style of football (or complete lack of it) that is on show.

None of us expected the levels of performance seen at the start of the season to continue but the whole system has fallen to pieces.

Injuries have obviously not helped but the hit and hope football and long balls down the channels is a return to the bad old days and a proven method of failure.

The obvious lack of a quality striker, reinforced by the loss of Jon Parkin (who looked at least a stone lighter last week) and the use of players out of position is not addressing the situation.

Against Macclesfield we had Jon Newby playing on the right of midfield instead of up front with Andy Bell. Lev Yalcin should be filling the advanced midfield role in place of Lee Bullock. Richard Cooper, though a battler, is not a creative midfielder and surely Leigh Wood or Stephen Brackstone must despair at not being in this team.

Only Darren Dunning (again), the battling Cooper and Richard Hope came out of the match with any credit.

Brass has lost his form alarmingly and Dave Merris appears lost on the left as he often is under utilised on runs and finds as a result his position left unguarded.

We can still save this situation but, and it has to be said, the goodwill of City fans is being pushed to the limit.

Against Macclesfield I don't recall their 'keeper having a tough save to make all game and we made them look a good team. Confidence is obviously required but getting the ball down and playing football can get results. At least let's go down playing.

M Winn

Sears Close

Godmanchester

Cambridgshire

Updated: 09:04 Wednesday, April 07, 2004