|
" It was a poor first-half from us but a good first-half from Tranmere. We couldn't pick up the pace of the game quick enough in that first 45 minutes. After you have conceded a pretty poor first goal then you are looking to get through your 45 minutes at the very least, keep it at 1-0 and then pick the thing up in the second period.
" Of course we couldn't do that though so we had quite a mountain to climb and a very difficult second-half task. We wanted a response, we got it, we very nearly found ourselves a goal in the first five minutes of that period but we couldn't do it. Whatever we looked at today didn't come off and didn't go right but I can't deny Tranmere the victory, they played very well in the first 45 minutes.
" We didn't have enough of the ball to find any outlet on the right-wing, so we had that similarly in the second period and we had more of the ball. I think we only had one effort on goal which was Joe Garner's header in the first period, so regardless of which shape we played or players we played we didn't get on the ball at all.
" Our football was pretty frenetic I should have to say rather than cultured down and passing and moving like we have been trying to do. We got a bit more of that in the second period and got a lot more crosses in from both flanks. So I don't think that it was the players themselves, I think it was just that the football in the first period was not calm enough. It was a bit hectic as I say and that was partly obviously down to us and partly down to Tranmere, they were the better team in the first 45 minutes. "
" When the ball wouldn't go in for the third time I knew it wasn't going to be our day. When Ronnie Moore was shouting at the referee for adding time on I told him that we could play for another two days if you want but I don't think that we are going to score a goal. It was one of those unfortunate days but the first-half performance wasn't acceptable. I didn't like that but the second period was better, what Tranmere managed to do was to score two goals when they were in the ascendancy but when we were in that period we couldn't find the net.
" I've just said to the boys that it shows you that we have got to be at the races for as much of the 90 minutes as we can. Even if we are having we are a tough period like the first-half we have got to dig in and make sure that it stays at 1-0 like we did against Leeds. We've done if before, we've been a goal down and we've said to them to come on and pick up in the second period and we've managed to do that.
" It's still a good side that I have got here and they are still good players that I have got here. I've just asked them what happens next for good teams as you've two choices. You feel sorry for yourselves because we have been beaten today or you look forward to the next game and say that you will pick it up again and see if you can hit the ground running at Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
" I said to the players at half-time that this is where I find out about them and they find out about me a little bit. We've had a really good run together since I came in, we've had good wins, and we're still on a good run to be fair, two league defeats in fifteen so it's not too bad is it. Today is the day though that we have had one of those two defeats and you feel disappointed and upset about it. "
" The big thing now is the response that I get at training tomorrow and training on Friday. Then particularly on the Saturday afternoon at Bristol Rovers which will not be an easy place to go to but will be a big test for the character of this team and I'm confident that they will come through that. It comes round quick but that's fine, we can talk about all the other things, we've missed the game at the weekend, all those bits and pieces that really don't count.
" It's about what happened today and we were slow out of the blocks, but the second one will come pretty quick. The boys should have the annoyance and the frustration still in their systems from today and I'm sure I will as well. So it's a question of saying to ourselves to come on, we've learned a big lesson at Tranmere Rovers, let's see that if Bristol Rovers play well we can stay with them. We've got to deal with that but we can certainly play better over 90 minutes than we have managed today.
" A right-winger is something that I want to have in the side. When it's not there it's always an easy one to look at and say that we have missed that today. Unless we have the ball though we could have had (Sir) Stanley Matthews on the right wing in the first-half and if he doesn't get the ball he wouldn't be any good. So we've got to be better all round as a team.
" Certainly you're not saying that we missed a wide player in the second period because there were lots of crosses and lots of play from us and very nearly two or three goals out of it. It wasn't to be though and it was a big ask in the second period to find the goals and to come back and take something away. Regardless of the composition of the team I think that we have got to play better than we did in the first-half for more of the 90 minutes at the weekend. "
" Danny (Carlton) just felt a ping in his back and just pulled his back in the early part of the warm-up. I still hadn't gone out, I was still getting ready to go out. Greg (Abbott) had taken them out and then the next thing I knew was him coming back with the physiotherapist (Neil Dalton) and they are having a look at his back. He went to try it again and said that he couldn't do it, I told him that he needed to be honest if he couldn't start as I needed to know what I was doing. Unfortunately for Danny and for us it was suddenly all-change before the game kicked off.
" It was just one of those days where nothing has gone well for us and it's a real shame because we had a fantastic crowd from Carlisle here. They were still banging that drum and cheering for the team with three or four minutes to go when it looks unlikely that we are even going to get a goal out of the game to give them something to shout about. So I'd like to thank them, they have been terrific and if a lot of them come down to Bristol Rovers then we will try to put it right if we can.
" I think that is four defeats in 20 league games, if I get four defeats in the next 20 games then that is eight defeats with six to play. I might take that off you now but I am a bit more of a perfectionist than that, I'll deal you for two, I'll take two in the next 20 games. We'll see what we can do, I've got a good team here, they've got a great support and they've got good players.
" Whilst we're all upset and disappointed with being beaten, we never like that, but there are certain things I can go home with tonight and say that wasn't too bad. If that spurs the players on for the weekend then fine, it's my job and Greg's job to make sure that it does. It was a half a day at the office, we performed very well in the second-half, we switched things around a wee bit off the bench and put their back lads under pressure but they stayed strong. "