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" I thought we were the better team in the first-half, I thought we out-played them, out-battled them and I thought we were going to out-score them but they scored right at the end. That gave them hope and I thought they played reasonably well in the second-half, they took their chances so well done to Bristol City. The goal didn't really change the team-talk, I thought we played really well in the first-half, we said that we've just got to try to do exactly the same in the second-half.
" We created a couple of chances, we got at them and we probably passed it better than they did in the first-half. We were full of confidence, the goal was an excellent set-play again and Danny (Graham) has stuck it in which was great. The goal changes the game doesn't it right on half-time. They are second top in the league because they are a good team, a strong team, and I think they showed that in the second-half.
" It shows you where we've got to get to but I think we competed with them, certainly in the first-half and in my opinion we were better than them in the first-half. In the second-half though their strengths showed through didn't they and they stuck the ball in the back of the net which is why they are second top and probably promoted.
" I just went for experience in Paul Thirlwell over Luke Joyce, I thought it was a big game and an important game as well. As I say, the team played well in the first-half, I was very, very happy with the first-half performance but they are a good team and I think they showed it in the second-half. "
On taking off Kevin Gall and bringing on Johann Smith, McDonald commented :
" We had options to change it and sometimes when you go a goal behind you make a little bit of a change to try to force it. In hindsight you could probably take the point, or try to take the point, but we were trying to win the game, like we have done all season we were trying to win the game. We've just been hit by two quality goals to kill us off. It was a good finish for the third goal, they are a good team and that is why they are second.
" I've said to the players 'well done, we've competed against a team that has got a huge budget, a huge squad and some quality players.' I thought we out-played them in the first-half and we gave as good as we got. I was really pleased with that but they have taken their chances in the second-half and they've come on stronger, as a goal does, it gives you confidence and it pushes you on. I thought we competed really well though and to come into a game where everybody expects us to beat Bristol City shows how far we have come.
" It's still all to play for, we can kill Swansea off or they can kill us off. Hopefully the pressure is on Oldham because they seem to be the ones that are slipping up at the moment. We have to remain positive, we can take lots of positives out of the game, especially in the first-half. We've had a couple of chances in the second-half as well with the Peter Murphy header and Derek Holmes just missed one towards the end. We're still in with a shout and we're still in good spirits even though we have been defeated for the first time in a while.
" I'm not so sure we're not good enough, we're in a position where if we had won today then we would have gone into the play-offs. We're still there though, we're still in with a shout and we must remain positive. The crowd was big today and hopefully it will be big next week. It will be difficult to lift the players for next week because we've lost on our own patch which we don't like doing. The lads are disappointed that they've been beaten but they'll still be in good spirits next week. It's all poised and it's all exciting so we'll certainly enjoy training next week. "