Town U18s Manager Alan McLoughlin was bitterly disappointed with his side’s performance in their 3-1 defeat to Bristol Rovers at the weekend.
The young Reds put in a sub-standard display against their local rivals with Jordan Edwards getting the visitors’ only goal, and McLoughlin could not hide his frustration at the result and the display.
“I thought it was a poor performance and it was the poorest that we had played all season,” he told swindontownfc.co.uk.
“I felt the players we had on a nice, wide open pitch at Yate would allow us to play better than we did, but unfortunately the players didn’t turn up.
“We were ineffective in wide areas and we didn’t defend and get around second balls. I think we’ve found that when we are playing against the likes of Plymouth and Bristol Rovers and teams that are a little bit more direct than us, we’re struggling to cope with the physicality and that is something that has to change.
“The boys have to understand that football is more than just passing the ball and they have to compete, they have to compete with their competitors and they have to earn the right to play.
“We just didn’t do enough on the day and it was the most disappointed I’ve been since I’ve been taking the boys because I know they can do better.
“There is a freedom that they can go and play but all I’m asking for is a work-rate and effort when the other team don’t have the ball.
“Bristol Rovers just had a little bit more desire and that’s something that wasn’t great to see and it is something the boys have to improve on.
“Other players have got to step up and you can praise players and pat them on the back all you want, but they have to take criticism, they have to take disappointments and they have to learn from those disappointments.
“I learn as a coach from the group I’ve got but I certainly expected a lot more. The game is gone now and we move on to the next game.
“We face a tough task at Portsmouth next Saturday away from home and I’m hoping that we see a reaction.”
