MANAGER Matt Fisher admits his Gornal Athletic players failed to rise to the challenge after added competition was brought into the squad.

The Peacocks welcomed strikers Nathan Anderson and Ben Berrows and defender Lee Anderson last week.

Berrows was unavailable for last Saturday's clash at Wellington but the Anderson brothers took their place on the bench.

Gornal lost 5-0 and the boss thinks the added competition may have played a part.

He said: "I was hoping the team would step up, rise to the challenge and show they wanted to keep their shirts. Instead I think it had the opposite reaction and unnerved a few of the lads.

"We deserved to lose 5-0 and can't have any complaints. The atmosphere in the warm up didn't feel right beforehand and maybe having some new players waiting in the wings added to the nerves."

Basement boys Gornal will now face promotion chasing Wolverhampton Sporting away this Saturday.

"I'm not expecting anything from the game," added Fisher. "It will give us a chance to see how far we have come since we last played them though.

"We have definitely improved and it'll just be another chance to work on our shape and what we are trying to do."