‘The type we want to bring in’ - Andy Whing singles out ‘tremendous’ Brackley Town star
Brackley Town manager Andy Whing highlighted winger Aidan Elliott-Wheeler for individual praise after the Oxford United loanee impressed in the Saints’ 1-0 defeat at Scunthorpe United.
Saturday’s result sealed Brackley’s relegation to the National League North and extended their winless run to 14 matches, but there were still some positives as Whing’s side went toe-to-toe with the play-off-bound Scunthorpe.
Elliott-Wheeler, who scored Brackley’s goal in the 1-1 draw with Boston United on Easter Monday, has often been the standout player since he arrived on loan from Oxford at the end of February.
That was the case yet again at Attis Arena, as the 19-year-old played the full 90 minutes at left wing-back, proving a real threat down the flank, especially when he cut inside onto his favoured right foot.
“I don’t like to single out anybody, but I thought Aidan Elliott-Wheeler was absolutely tremendous,” Whing told @BrackleyTownFC.
“He’s the type we want to bring in, that type of play – young, energetic legs. He was outstanding today, just unfortunately for him he’s on the losing team again.”
Brackley have lost 11 of their 14 matches under Whing so far, drawing the other three. It’s been, by his own account, the worst run of Whing’s career – both as a manager and as a player.
The drop-off has been really difficult to take for supporters, especially after former head coach Gavin Cowan left Saints in a respectable 15th position when he left for League Two side Shrewsbury Town.
Whing has quite often overseen some decent Brackley performances, but the results have been woefully inadequate.
On his side’s showing at Scunthorpe, Whing added: “We started off really well, we made one mistake with the free-kick and he (Callum Roberts) put it in, a great finish to be fair to him.
“That was the only bit of quality in the game, really. But the lads kept going, created chances. Even right at the end, the goalkeeper has a glorious chance and doesn’t score.
“That kind of sums us up. I think all season, by all accounts, [struggling] to put the ball in the back of the net.
“We have that endeavour, the lads work their socks off, the shape was good. We just lacked quality in that final third. That pretty much sums it all up.”