Danny Whitaker felt his Macclesfield side “failed to impose themselves” in their opening day victory against nine-man Wythenshawe Town, in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday.
Alex Curran’s brace was the difference as The Silkmen progressed through to a Preliminary Round tie away at Mossley on 20th August.
Despite the victory and a passage through to the next stage, Macclesfield could have scored more against their lower league opposition.
Whitaker said: “We didn’t make it easy, which is what disappoints me the most.
“Obviously, players have off days but we were sloppy in possession at times or were making the wrong decisions.
“Even against nine men, we were still sloppy. We didn’t impose our game and the way we like to play.
“It just wasn’t us – we had certain moments when we did look ourselves but just not enough of them.
“We were too predictable and safe, we needed to make more penetrative runs in behind and stretch the play.”
Despite exhibiting areas to improve on, Whitaker’s team could have scored more against the Manchester-based side.
Nicky Maynard quickly showed The Silkmen faithful how much of a handful he will be for defenders this year in his 19-minute cameo.
Whilst James Berry thought he had given Macclesfield the lead, in the 41st minute, only for it to be ruled out by the officials.
The Manager said: “Apparently it was handball, the linesman gave the goal, but there was a huge discussion about what it hit. It was a bit confusing, but it was what it was.”
Shortly after the disallowed goal, Curran deservedly scored his first of the game in the fourth minute of first-half stoppage time.
Whitaker said: “It was pleasing to see it was from a set piece, but again it just goes back to us. The standards we set over pre-season were so high, I probably expected a little bit too much.
It was a win nonetheless for Whitaker and his side, as they now turn their attention to Clitheroe, in their first league game of 2022/23.
The 41-year-old said: “We will go into the game full of confidence, because we have won the game, on top of a great pre-season.”
By Nathan Edwards
