Annan boss Peter Murphy has ordered his team to toughen up after admitting they were “bullied” out of the game against Edinburgh City.
His side nosedived to a four-goal home defeat and Murphy reckons his side need to learn from the weekend loss or suffer more agony this season.
He said of the drubbing, despite a bright start to the game: “That was very, very frustrating.
“We came up against a very efficient Edinburgh City side who, I think, really bullied
us.
“In the first half hour we were on top but their keeper made some absolutely excellent reaction saves.
“And that changes the game as they got the chance to go up the pitch and score and we conceded goals from set pieces which Edinburgh work on quite a bit and the second goal was a carbon copy of their first.
“After that the second half was a bit of a non event.
“When you are on top you have to take your chances and we didn’t.”
Murphy added: “I am obviously disappointed with the whole game and in the second half we were looking for a reaction.
“Our boys were chasing the game and the ball became a bit of a hot potato so I am frustrated but there is plenty to work on.
“The referee contradicted himself.
“When one of their players got a head knock he stopped play but when Steven Swinglehurst was down with a head knock then he played on.
“It made it more frustrating after a result like that.
“Edinburgh have been efficient over the years and they scream for everything and got a heck of a lot of free-kicks and we should be doing that.
“There is plenty to learn from and hopefully my younger players will learn from it.
“This was a very off day for the players and after the last home defeat against Albion Rovers we got a reaction when we scored five goals against them in midweek so hopefully we get something similar.”
