Failing to capitalise on first half display, forced into subs and preparing for tough run - Cheltenham Town boss Michael Flynn after Salford City defeat
What are your thoughts?
We threw it away by not punishing them first half. We were absolutely superb first half, best we've played this season. We just didn't capitalise on it. The two goals we conceded were good strikes, although the second one has taken a deflection. The two subs I was forced to make, Arkell (Jude-Boyd) and Joel (Colwill) because they were tired and couldn't run any more - that killed us a bit.
You were critical of the first half last week, so how pleased were you with the opening 45 minutes?
We have put it together. Salford went with a lot more long balls in the second half and our two number 10s, Arkell and Ethon (Archer) and Liam Dulson at the end, were still going to press their centre-backs, when all they were doing was going long and picking up the second balls. We are screaming it on from the touchline, but the players have to read that and we can't do every single thing for them. Sometimes it's a problem with the amount of things they actually get done for them these days, they can't think for themselves on the pitch. It's a big learning curve for them.
Is that because of the younger players and their lack of EFL experience?
Yes, of course it is. You look at the players they are bringing on, Adelukan was playing in the Championship 10 months ago. It's what we are up against. But there are a lot of positives to take from it and I won't go away completely deflated. We need to keep our spirits up and keep together and learn how to see a game out.
Ethon Archer's first EFL goal. Was he disappointed at half-time not to have done what he then did in the second half?
That's the thing, by being selected it should give him confidence. I am putting my faith in him. I had a bit of a pop at him during the first half and at half-time. Nothing untoward, but I told him in no uncertain terms, I want him to back himself and have an end product. He did that second half and if he'd done it first half, he'd have had two or three today. It's a bit frustrating to come away with nothing.
The two players on international duty had a lot of travelling. Is that something you'd rather do without?
Of course. The subs we made today, taking off two players who were causing Salford problems, but we had no choice. If you force the issue you are risking injury and they miss six or 12 weeks with a hamstring or calf tear. We have to be careful, wrap them up in cotton wool and get them ready for next week.
You played 5-1-3-1, was it pleasing to see that come to fruition?
We have a new analyst in now, so we are able to show them these animations a bit more in the classroom, which is a learning environment, then we are able to go out and practise on the training ground. As coaches, we were really pleased that the fruits of your labour come off, but unfortunately we still need to improve in the areas of second balls and seeing the game out. Even at 1-1 we are taking a long throw. We are screaming on. I am lot quieter on the touchline these days, taking it all in and not making sound decisions based on emotional reactions. I am able to focus more and I am screaming because we don't even have a long throw, so I don't know why they are doing it and their 18 and 27 are on the edge ready to counter attack, with Luke Young not able to look after them both. It's crazy. I have just said that to them in there and those are the things they'll see in the debrief next week and hopefully we learn from it.
How do you break it down overall?
We've lost the game and I'd rather be poor and win. It gives us positives going into next week, which will be one of the toughest away games of the season, no doubt (Chesterfield). Unfortunately we do have a tough run for the next six weeks, but we have to knuckle down, stick together, dust ourselves down and come back again.
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