CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte Independence Coach Mike Jeffries didn’t mince words after his side’s winless streak moved to five games following a 1-0 defeat to Bethlehem Steel FC at Ramblewood Stadium.

“We’ve killed ourselves two weeks in a row, just brain dead plays in the beginning of the games and we have to chase the game,” Jeffries said. “It’s pretty simple – I expect better. I’ll take responsibility for us not starting well, whether it’s mentality or organization. Last two games we’ve put ourselves in a hole and not really been able to dig ourselves out.”

After a strong start to the season, which included a four-game winning streak that pushed the side near the top of the Eastern Conference standings, the Independence have struggled of late. In their previous outing, the side was able to salvage a point from a two-goal deficit against Toronto FC II, but a poor defensive decision on Friday night cost them dearly as Cory Burke stole in to score the only goal of the game.

“The goal tonight is such a basic play, you don’t need to make a harder play than it is just be safe, be done with it,” Jeffries said. “We shouldn’t put ourselves in that spot and you do that at home and it makes it difficult, you end up chasing the game you end up having to play against a very compressed group. We were not good the first half – period.”

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The Independence improved in the second half, as Steel goalkeeper Samir Badr finished the game with three saves, but were unable to find an answer to Burke’s goal. Now in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, the side will prepare for a big game next Friday night on the road against in-state rival Wilmington Hammerheads FC with three points at the forefront of their thoughts.

“We know what we can do as a team, we know our strengths, we know that we’re a very good team, we have a lot of good players,” said on-loan forward Zach Pfeffer. “I felt like I was getting close … and I would’ve liked to get maybe one or two back, get the one goal but that happens sometimes. Hopefully next game they go in.”