Plateau United technical adviser Gbenga Ogunbote has called on his players to improve their finishing after the team defeated Inter Lagos 2-0 in a matchday six encounter at the New Jos Stadium on Sunday.
Gideon Monday and Jibrin Ibrahim scored in the second half to secure victory for the Peace Boys.
Despite the comfortable win, Plateau United missed several clear-cut opportunities in the first half, denying themselves the chance to put the game beyond doubt much earlier.
Ogunbote Worried by Poor Finishing
Ogunbote admitted that his side must become more clinical in front of goal and urged his players to make better use of their opportunities.
“I think it is worrisome, no doubt. Every coach wants to win from the first minute of the game, but sometimes anxiety and other factors can affect a team,” Ogunbote told the media after the game.
“In the first half, I think we were wasteful. It has been a problem not only for Plateau United; it is something that affects other clubs too.
“Honestly, we need to work seriously on it so that we can take our chances and, at least, remove pressure from our game. We will keep working on it until we get it right.”
Plateau United Stronger Than Last Season
The victory moved Plateau United into second position, a significant improvement from last season when the club battled against relegation before eventually securing their top-flight status.
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Ogunbote believes the team is now more settled and has a different objective this season.
“They are two different assignments. Last season was a rescue mission; this season is a tournament to make an impact and win laurels,” he said.
“So, we should expect that we have a better team than we had last season. I think it is still a work in progress.”
Gaffer Targets Longer Unbeaten Run
Plateau United are now unbeaten in their last five league matches, recording three wins and two draws during that run.
However, Ogunbote remains cautious about his team’s impressive start and wants his players to maintain their focus.
“No secret, other than hard work. If there is a level playing ground, everything will go on smoothly,” he stated.
“Maybe we will go unbeaten for a long time, but it is too early to say. The league is a marathon, and we must not get carried away with this result.
“We hope and pray it continues. We hope the supporters will rally around us and keep supporting us. That will give us the confidence to do more.”
By Adeboye Amosu
