Town Head Coach Luke Williams spoke to the local media to give his reaction on his side’s 1-1 draw with Shrewsbury Town earlier today…
ON THE RESULT AND PERFORMANCE:
“When you go in-front you should win because after that it is about managing the game. We didn’t do that well enough and it feels like we’ve lost two points.
“We created a lot of space in the middle of the pitch to try and dominate and to be able to set up good passes from midfield, we did that well and I thought we pressed the ball very well.
“We went in-front and I think one mistake led to two mistakes to three mistakes and so on and sloppy errors that were unforced, which was very disappointing.
“And then to concede a minute before half-time is very naïve. For everyone to go up for a corner and leave ourselves light at the back was naïve.
“That is disappointing.
“It takes time for young players to learn and of course I need to help them along the way and sometimes you miss things. You concentrate on one area of the pitch if players are doing their job in one area of the pitch and you don’t see other things, so I need to help them as well to recognise things that are potentially going to be dangerous for us.
“They are learning for sure.
“We can play everyone at the back and for sure we won’t create anything going forward, so it is not a huge problem. It is about balance. Teams tend to score goals when there is space but if you try and deny all the space at the back you will struggle to find anything at the top end of the pitch.
“The second-half was disappointing because we no longer managed to control the game as much and because we were desperately chasing for another goal, we were too quick going forward and too many difficult passes were played that were hard for players to get hold off and we then turned the ball over too many times.
“It was disappointing the second 45.
“We need to continue to start games well and then be able to control and maintain from that position.”
ON JOHN GODDARD’S FIRST GOAL IN TOWN COLOURS:
“I was really pleased. He’s been threatening for a while and it looked like it was coming, so I’m pleased he’s finally got one.”
ON NATHAN DELFOUNESO REPLACING LUKE NORRIS IN THE STARTING XI:
“Both of those boys need to really stake a claim to be in contention to play week in and week out.
“Both have done well and I’m really pleased with the pair of them.
“It is often about trying to bring fresh legs on the pitch later on in the game to try and inject some energy in there.
“Rotating people starting is about competition for places and trying to push people along to see if somebody can really hit a purple patch of form, score some goals and force themselves in as a regular starter.”
ON LLOYD JONES’ INJURY:
“He’s pulled something in the Oldham game and seems to have made it slightly worse, so we are going to have to see how he progresses over the course of the week.
“He’s unlikely for Tuesday but he’s pain free so there is hope that he could be available.”
