Place calls for fans to see 'the bigger picture'

ATHLONE Town manager Brendan Place has urged supporters to look at the "bigger picture" following their disastrous six-goal thumping at home to Finn Harps last Friday. The Town completely fell sunder during the second half and eventually shipped six goals as Finn Harps ran riot. But Brendan Place has pointed to a string of injuries and a lack of experience in his squad after such a crushing defeat; a loss which leaves Athlone hovering just eight points ahead of bottom placed Kildare County with four league matches remaining. Speaking after Athlone's heaviest loss since relocating to Lissywoollen, Place said: "Obviously we are very disappointed with the manner of our defeat, it's hugely disappointing. A fair reflection of the opening half would have seen us 2-0 up at the break. We have a huge glut of injuries at the moment and that's an issue we are presently assessing at the club. "As the manager I have to look at such a heavy defeat but I don't think the result tells the bigger picture and I'm still positive about what can happen at this club under my management. I think it's important that people realise our squad is not strong in terms of strength in depth. We have plenty of potential in the squad and it's great for these young lads to get first-team experience, but sometimes you can fall apart in circumstances like this when there's no genuine experience in the core of the side. I know I have to get more experience into the spine of the side and I'm working on that with a view to next season." Place continued: "We have to learn from defeats like this and I hope our young players will come back stronger and learn from the experience, regardless of how bad it possibly felt at the time. I would like to get another couple of wins before the end of the season and four more points will probably ensure our safety in the First Division. "I want to get a few morale building results between now and the end of the season. I do genuinely believe that the addition of three or four experienced First Division players will stand us in good stead for next season." Place hopes to have Des Hope and Noel McGee back in the squad for Friday's tough away trip to promotion challengers Shelbourne, but the game is likely to come too soon for Robbie Hamm, Gary Murphy and David O'Connor. With only four games left in the season, Athlone are currently eight points off bottom spot in tenth position but have only won a meagre five times this season, suffering a total of 16 defeats to date.