Interview: Killick demands more from Lee – and the whole squad

Lee celebrates his first against Tiverton (Photo Credit: Jon Ashworth www.sideoftheworld.co.uk / pooletownfc.co.uk)

Despite continuing his scoring streak, Tony Lee still came in for some criticism from his manager after Poole fell to a 3-1 defeat against Farnborough.

Now in his third and most prolific spell at the Black Gold Stadium, Lee has scored 15 goals in 14 games since the start of last season – and had made it five from three with his header against Boro on Saturday.

However, the man in form did fluff his lines whilst one-on-one twice, leaving Killick to demand more from his striker.

Speaking directly after the game, Killick told All Poole Aren’t We: “[Against Farnborough] he’s scored a good goal but missed two one-on-ones. He should have scored one of those.

“As good as he is playing, he’s contributed to our downfall in the same way that the soft goals contributed to our downfall.”

After Poole’s midweek victory Killick had detailed how desperate the club was to keep the ex-Eastleigh frontman, as well as showering glowing praise on Lee.

Stalwart Killick has a fantastic record whilst at the helm at Poole, partly due to the high standards the manager keeps for his players.

“For as good as Tony has been, we win as a team, we lose a team,” continued Killick.

“Tony’s been good, but he contributed to us not winning the game. That’s no different to some of our defenders, or the players as a group have all contributed to our downfall.

“We don’t paper over the cracks by just saying ‘oh Tony’s scored a goal, that’s him out of the firing line.’ There’s things that Tony should have done better, during the game, in the same way there’s a lot of things over players should have done better.”

Despite two defeats from their three opening games and the above criticism, Killick was quick to point out the strength he believes his side have.

“I feel we’re very good still. I look at some of the partnerships we’ve got –  Jamie Whisken and Will Spetch, they’re very good, Jack Dickson and Declan Rose are a good pairing.

“I think if you go through the whole team – Dan Bartlett is a very good player and will only get better as he adapts to non-league football.

“From his point of view, he probably doesn’t want to adapt to this level, but I feel that he and Corby Moore are looking very powerful.

“Luke Holmes is playing really well, and Luke Burbidge is always a threat on one side – and Jez Bedford has done ever so well since coming into the side against Gosport. And of course, Tony is playing so well up front.

“Even on the bench, I’ve got Will Fletcher who I really, really rate, I think he’s got a awful lot of potential. Then, I’ve got young Joe Wickham, who is a very good player, and then we’ve still got Josh Carmichael.

“I back our players 100%, but we need to strengthen our mentality I think.”

Lee had been battling a slight hamstring injury in Poole’s opening fixtures, but played the full 90 against Farnborough. As such, Killick has no injury concerns approaching Poole’s visit to Harrow Borough.

You can read more of Tommy’s thoughts in the Bournemouth Echo here.