D
Deleted member 4439
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Following the 3-2 defeat, the Alex boss told the club's official web-site: "I thought it was a pulsating game of high intensity. It was a quality game to watch and be involved in with both teams having a real go to play their football and try and attack. I am always deflated to lose the game because I don't like it but I was proud of the players this evening. They gave it a real go against a good side, who have started the season really well. The place was bouncing and they have improved from last season. They could be up there with the players they have. Their movement in the final third was very good.
"We dug in, we hung in there at times and I always thought we were capable of scoring some goals. We scored two really good goals and the goalkeeper has made a great save to deny Coco after he produced a great turn on the edge of the box.
"They started well and deservedly took the lead but we were disappointed with the manner of it. The referee has stood two yards in the centre of the box and I don't think he could have been in a worst position. He has blocked Brad from getting pressure on the ball and Fleck has drilled it in. I told the referee afterwards in a nice way and hopefully he will learn from that but it hasn't helped us this evening.
"We have done work on the second ball from a corner and dealing with that and the referee has played a hand in that with his poor position. The players showed great character to go up the other end and Brad has scored a terrific goal. We then started the second half okay but Armstrong has taken the ball a long way and finished it well but we have to be better in defending that type of situation because they were getting in behind us a little too easily.
"The players again came back and I told Marcus tonight how important he could be for us. He is one of our experienced players and is an International and he battled hard for the cause and deserved his goal. He worked hard and we tried to keep Ryan on for as long as he could because we thought he could create something with one of his runs, he nearly did with his shot and a couple of forceful runs but he just tired.
"I said to the players that we had to try and restrict them to long range efforts and keep them away from our goal and we have been done by a spectacular effort from 25 yards out. It is a massive step forward for us tonight and I am proud of them to come here and put on a performance like that against a team full of confidence."
"We dug in, we hung in there at times and I always thought we were capable of scoring some goals. We scored two really good goals and the goalkeeper has made a great save to deny Coco after he produced a great turn on the edge of the box.
"They started well and deservedly took the lead but we were disappointed with the manner of it. The referee has stood two yards in the centre of the box and I don't think he could have been in a worst position. He has blocked Brad from getting pressure on the ball and Fleck has drilled it in. I told the referee afterwards in a nice way and hopefully he will learn from that but it hasn't helped us this evening.
"We have done work on the second ball from a corner and dealing with that and the referee has played a hand in that with his poor position. The players showed great character to go up the other end and Brad has scored a terrific goal. We then started the second half okay but Armstrong has taken the ball a long way and finished it well but we have to be better in defending that type of situation because they were getting in behind us a little too easily.
"The players again came back and I told Marcus tonight how important he could be for us. He is one of our experienced players and is an International and he battled hard for the cause and deserved his goal. He worked hard and we tried to keep Ryan on for as long as he could because we thought he could create something with one of his runs, he nearly did with his shot and a couple of forceful runs but he just tired.
"I said to the players that we had to try and restrict them to long range efforts and keep them away from our goal and we have been done by a spectacular effort from 25 yards out. It is a massive step forward for us tonight and I am proud of them to come here and put on a performance like that against a team full of confidence."