Martin Wild spoke to Andy Cooke after the Brentford game to get his thoughts on the match

Andy Cooke was sporting the look of a boxer who'd done 15 rounds with Mike Tyson after today's defeat at Oteley to a rejuvenated Brentford side.

Nursing a bruise and cut under his right eye he appeared almost lost for words after a third consecutive damaging defeat.

"No disrespect to them I thought they were a decent side. They set their stall out and were solid but we didn't help matters with the way we played. We just seemed to be a bit lost at times and as soon as they scored that goal I thought it was going to take something special to get back into it and we didn't really create anything to be honest.

"It's not as if you go out there to not try or play rubbish. You don't want to go out and play like that but I don't know what to say. It's just been a bad day all round."

Town's manager has always defended his team to the hilt, but today he was critical and offered the fans an apology on behalf of his players for a performance that was sub-standard at best.

"I don't think he had a lot to say at the end but I missed a bit of it 'cos I was with the doc. He was a bit lost for words and he'll watch the game again and so I'm sure he'll have a lot more to say to us on Monday morning."

Salop have struggled for consistency all season and the Town striker acknowledged that this was the reason the club found themselves adrift of the play-off or promotion places.

"I think all the top teams in this league have shown consistency throughout. In the early part of the season and around Christmas time we found the levels needed, but unfortunately the inconsistency has kicked in again of late. We haven't stamped our authority on games and things haven't gone our way. I'd like to think there's a lot of football still to be played but when you're not winning games, all the points you keep dropping add up and it then becomes difficult to collect enough points to get up there because your confidence dips."

It seems to have become somewhat of a habit to lose goals at set-pieces and today's winner in the 52nd minute came once more via a dead-ball routine.

"I'd like to see it again; I don't understand what's going wrong. It was the same at Peterborough and I haven't seen that one again. It looked very similar to how we've conceded again today. We've got to start being a lot more solid. Last year we didn't concede too many from set pieces and this year we are. So the gaffer will want to analyse it and I'd like another look at it myself."

The team left the field to a cacophony of boos after their second home loss in a week and the number 20 thought the paying customers had every right to be vocal and critical in their assessment of the performance.

"I think everyone's got their opinion. Any fan that comes wants to see their team play well and pass the ball. I think they were fair to boo at the end of the game because the performance wasn't acceptable. We didn't play well, we got beat, so they've every right to voice their frustration.

"You have to do something out on the pitch to generate any kind of atmosphere. I don't think we did that today so their emotions at the end were justified really."

Peters was most concerned about the contribution in the final third of the pitch as Bees keeper didn't have a save to make throughout ninety frustrating minutes.

"As a forward you're always trying to get on the end of crosses, any bits and bobs knocking around but it just didn't happen today. It's as much my fault as anyone else's. We lost a lot of second balls and it has a domino effect across the pitch. Everyone has to work together; you can't just rely on two or three to get you through the game."

Putting aside the disappointment of the afternoon I asked Cooke if he was pleased with the progress he was making following a lengthy absence to injury.

"Well, it's nice to be back playing and scoring a couple of goals that's for sure. We've had a lot of games in a short time frame and it's not nice to be in a team which is losing every week; well, not every week but the last three, but you want to be part of a team that's solid and pushing on. Like last season when we were going for promotion, we've all just got to stick together and put things right."

The striker got 72 minutes of action before being replaced by Michael Symes but was gutted to have missed his only notable chance with his final touch.

"Oh gutted's not the word. You wait all that time for half a chance and when it comes to you?.I knew what I wanted to do?. I'm gutted I missed it 'cos centre forwards thrive on opportunities like that. Eight times out of ten I'd back myself to score with that but it just sums up the day. It was poor by me and on another day it goes in and it's one-all and we get something from the game. I feel relatively good. My fitness is improving and every time the ball comes into the box I feel I can get something so it's not down to lack of match practice, I'm not using that as an excuse. I should have put it away but I suppose every striker wishes he could put away every chance that comes his way."

Gary Peters suggested that some business was likely to take place in the coming week and I asked Cookey if additional personnel in the striking department, was healthy competition.

"I've always said that whoever the gaffer brings in, and in whatever position, is no bad thing. We had a conversation at the end of last season and again at the beginning of this, that it's healthy competition and gives the team a lift to see new players come in," he said.

With ex-boss Graham Turner's Hereford next in line for the deflated Shrews, games were coming thick and fast and they would be looking to add to the Shrews woes and make it four straight defeats.

"There's no easy game in this league. Even if you beat someone three or four nil, you have to work hard for it these days. It's a hard league it really is. Next week will be a tough game for us. I thought Hereford looked a half decent side last season and they're flying high. It doesn't worry me going there. We went there last season and won so there's no reason why we can't do it again. We have to think positive and go there and try and turn it around next week."

Given Town's abysmal record against teams in the promotion picture, it would take a brave man to predict an away win but a point would break the losing sequence and give Peters something to build on. The fans demand nothing less.