ATTACKING and defending corners will be a focus in training, according to Worcester City’s stand-in skipper Andy Gallinagh.

The defender felt Worcester took a “punishment” for a “sloppy showing” last weekend as Salford City ran out 3-0 winners in National League North at Moor Lane.

The Blue and Whites conceded from a corner when Mike Phenix headed in Sam Walker’s delivery to put the hosts 2-0 in front.

However, Gallinagh insisted they would be working hard this week to “nullify” the threat of set-pieces ahead of their FA Trophy third qualifying round tie at Curzon Ashton on Saturday (3pm).

“We have let them in through faults of our own,” said the 31-year-old former Cheltenham Town and Bath City captain.

“We have conceded again from a set-piece, which isn’t great, and we will have a look at that in the week to see if we can nullify that going forward.

“We will train hard at that this week and hopefully put a stop to that going forward.”

While Salford had 10 shots on target, City only forced keeper Jay Lynch into two meaningful saves from Tyler Weir and Cieron Keane after Lee Hughes struck the post.

But, having had eight corners with the majority coming in the second period, Gallinagh believed they had many more opportunities to score.

“We had good chances and if they had gone in it would have been completely different,” said Gallinagh, who joined City in the summer after being released by Bath.

“We have had seven corners in the second half. A few of them were put on the money and we weren’t there to put the ball in the net. That was frustrating.”

Gallinagh was on City’s team coach which arrived at Salford at 3.10pm after getting stuck in a traffic jam on the M6.

Although admitting it was “not ideal” as the kick-off was delayed by 45 minutes, he said they could not use it as an excuse for their performance in Greater Manchester.

“We got the coach from the ground in Bromsgrove at 9.45am, picked the lads up just before Stoke and then didn’t move for a few hours,” Gallinagh said.

“Obviously, it was not ideal. I know it was only a 45-minute delay but it still has that effect.

“But, saying that, it would have the same effect on them as well as they would have been prepared for a 3pm kick-off, so their eating would be geared up for that as was ours.

“We can’t use that as an excuse, though. We had a good warm-up but were sloppy and have taken a punishment. It was not a good day.

“But we will dust ourselves down and get on with it this week.”