Bully forced to find goalkeeper

Stafford Rangers manager Steve Bull is launching a frantic search for a replacement goalkeeper for injured first-choice Danny Alcock.

Alcock dislocated an elbow in the goalless draw with Kings Lynn at Marston Road and had to be taken to hospital.

Bully has since confirmed that Alcock is facing six weeks out, so he will have to go into the transfer market to get a new goalkeeper in, with the clock ticking before a trip to Gateshead on Saturday.

He said: "It has been confirmed that Danny faces six weeks out, so that is that. We must get a new goalkeeper in.

"It will likely be a loan signing, so myself and the coaching staff are going to have to get our heads together to see who we can get in.

"It is a huge blow to lose our No 1, but that has what happened and we may as well just get on with it."

Teenage deputy Danny Allen had to step in and managed to keep a clean sheet on his debut, but Bull knows it would be unfair on the youngster to thrust him into the Blue Square North firing line at this stage.

He said: "Danny Allen is only a young lad. I told him just to go out there, enjoy himself and don't panic.

"He is a good lad but he is not experienced enough to fill the breach for that long. To ask him to do that would be unfair on him. The search for a new goalkeeper begins now."

The Rangers boss meanwhile was delighted with the response of his players against the Linnets, after the tongue lashing he gave them in the wake of the 3-0 defeat to Southport on Saturday.

Rangers missed a hatful of chances to break Kings Lynn's record of seven draws from seven matches this season.

Bull said: "I told them after the game it was 90 per cent better than what they gave me against Southport. They bounced back with commitment.

"It's what the fans want out of the players, it's what I want from now on - nothing less.

"How we didn't win that game I'll never know. The lesson is, you have got to take your chances."

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