TALBOT must be more ruthless.

That was the message from Beechwood gaffer Tommy Sloan this week after he watched his side slide to defeat away to Pollok on Saturday.

The defending Premier Division champions had a plethora of chances to get something from the match but a Carlo Monti goal proved to be enough for the Glasgow side to take all three points.

Sloan says he has seen his side play worse and win but if they want to maintain the pace then they must be more clinical.

He said: "We started slowly and ended up chasing the game a wee bit.

"It wasn't the worst performance from us this season. In fact, we dominated most of the match and had lots of possession. We just couldn't find that goal to take something from the game.

"That's us lost another league game and we are lucky that no one team seems to have found the consistency to put their stamp on things.

"We need to be more ruthless in front of goal and that's the main concern at the minute because that's two league games in a row now where we have failed to score."

The Talbot boss now prepares himself for a massive league clash with highflying Glenafton at Beechwood on Saturday. He said: "Glenafton are improving and they have a few of our old players in their side so we need to improve in front of goal against them."

Talbot were last week dealt a Scottish Cup trip to Carnoustie Panmure in the fifth round. The Gowfers currently lie eleventh in the East Superleague.

Sloan said: "It's a tough one. They are a decent side. We wanted to have them watched at the weekend, but their match was off, whilst they had somebody down watching us so that could prove to be a little tricky.

"It'll be a hard one, but away ties in the Scottish Cup are always hard games."

The Scottish Cup fixture is due to be played on Saturday February 13.

Meanwhile, Saturday's massive league match with Glenafton sees a return to 2pm football.