Chris Lakey Keith Webb says it's up to his players to decide whether he has to go Christmas shopping for replacements as he tries to find a way to strengthen the Linnets' soft underbelly.

Chris Lakey

Keith Webb says it's up to his players to decide whether he has to go Christmas shopping for replacements as he tries to find a way to strengthen the Linnets' soft underbelly.

Lynn have squandered leads in their last two games, and returned empty-handed - and Webb believes it could soon be time to shake things up a bit at The Walks.

“I have options and I will look at them,” said the Lynn boss. “But it's down to the players at the end of the day to prove to me I don't have to look for replacements.

“I can't keep saying it - but I have given the players all the chances under the sun and now they have to decide for me. All I can do is send them out - they're the ones who perform on the field.

“They are clearly a team that is capable of winning games, it's just completing the whole thing. We were two up in midweek and we can create chances so I look at it from a positive point of view.”

Lynn went down 3-2 at Gateshead in midweek after taking a 2-0 lead inside 16 minutes, leaving them 12th in the table, rather than a very healthy seventh which victory would have guaranteed them.

“We are a club that demands high standards,” said Webb. “The fans want to see a successful team and the large fan base we have here deserves to see us in the top half, but things do take time.

“The fact of the matter is I don't think we are very far away from being a decent team, to be honest. If we'd won on Wednesday we would have been well up there, so things are not as bad as some people make out - but equally I accept they are not as good as we sometimes make out.

“It is just a case of finding that extra gear and keeping people on their toes.”

League action is set aside for today as Lynn host Stafford Rangers in the FA Trophy third qualifying round - seven days before the Midlands side visit The Walks again for a Blue Square North match.

“It's a bit of a distraction from the league but it will be tough because they're obviously doing quite well in the league,” said Webb. “We will give it everything we can, we will have to work hard. It's a cup game but we want to win it and we will focus on this just as we do on every game.”

Webb has doubts over Joe Francis who didn't make it to half-time at Gateshead because of a slight hamstring problem, not helped by the long drive north.

Francis, along with Adam Smith (calf and heel) and Bradley Thomas (Achilles) will all be assessed this morning before Webb makes a final decision on his line-up, although Andrew Fisk returns after suspension.

One man who is almost certain to start is Michael Frew, who scored both midweek goals.

“He's in a rich vein of form at the moment,” said Webb. “He had an indifferent time of it last season but he has come back and worked hard.

“That's what I ask of all the players so we will get in early tomorrow and sort a few things out. It's a matter of them just holding their nerve a little bit more and being more resilient.

“We're making the chances, I just want them to cut out the silly mistakes.”

Lynn squad (possible): Howie, Graham, Chapman, Thomas, Weaver, Crane, Sedgemore, Francis, Frew, Mitchell, Turner, Bloomfield, Joachim, Camm, Dwyer, Murray, Fisk.