Town Head Coach Luke Williams spoke to members of the local media in the wake of his side’s 3-2 defeat to Port Vale earlier today. Here are the key points from what he had to say…
ON WHERE THE GAME WAS LOST:
“It is hard to know why we allowed that to happen (Vale’s quick equaliser) and too many people switched off from a free-kick and we were chasing the game and it becomes more physical.
“There was more space at the back and it was too difficult for us to cope.
“It was the same team that looked very, very good away from home and it is the same team that pretty much came from one goal down to beat Gillingham, but today it was a different reaction.
“Some of the quality is not there in terms of the all-round play.
“The game was over at half-time if we scored when we were on top. We scored the most difficult goals and we had far easier chances but we didn’t take them.
“We were looking for more end product. We played away from home with a game plan, which was delivered well, and we limited the opposition in the first-half, we take the lead and then concede immediately.
“That was the first big, big problem because that was a moment in the game when you have to be extra focused, you know there is going to be a reaction from the restart and you have to be able to match that.
“There was a mistake inside the box, the ball was spilled by a keeper who has been fantastic and one mistake cost us, but it was the whole team allowing that cross to come in immediately after the restart.”
ON BRAD BARRY’S SENDING-OFF:
“We were throwing everything forward in a desperate attempt to get back into the game. I believed they tried today and they gave a huge push to try and get back on level-terms.
“They didn’t go behind through not trying, it was through a lack of experience but they tried and they gave everything.
“We were short at the back and the opposition need to do nothing else but protect their lead and put the ball forward on a very big pitch.
“We got exposed at the back and people are having to make recovery tackles.”
ON THE MOOD IN THE CAMP:
“Obviously I’m very emotional and very upset because we appeared to do enough in the first-half to win the game but we allowed it to get away, so I’m very hurt and very disappointed.
“it does look desperate but I believe we can win enough games to stay in the division.”
ON THE DECISION TO REPLACE NICKY AJOSE:
“Nicky hasn’t had a full week of training and it looked to me like he had given as much as he possibly could.
“I felt there were going to be far more direct balls into the centre of the pitch, which is something that Nicky isn’t comfortable with.
“Luke Norris came on and did exactly what he was asked to do which was to run at the heart of Port Vale, to compete with the physical centre-backs and he scored.
“He did his job perfectly and he gave us a chance.”
