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"No, it was a cracking game and our players gave a great account of themselves. We have given Luton a really tough season and full credit to Mike Newell and all his players over the season. They have been consistent and have kept going. Good luck to them in the next division. For our players today, I can have no complaints as they gave everything in their tank and you couldn’t ask any more of them to be perfectly honest to you.
It was demanding and hard out there and all the players were aware of how difficult a game it was. We gave a great account of ourselves. They do every week. We didn’t manage to pass it as well as we wanted to in the second half. All in all I am very proud of the players especially the way they conducted themselves and the way they played.
Jay Tabb wasn’t fit as he has flu, that’s why he didn’t play. I always said I will use the squad and it’s the squad I will use. None of the players let us down – they never do, but today it wasn’t enough. We played well – you can’t knock them when they do that.
They put pressure on us, which is what you expect when they have been crowned the champions. They wont go to just sit there and play 5-a-side football and see the day through. They are not the champions of this league for nothing.
I wont have any problem lifting them for Tuesday – I will just get on with it.
Deon was struggling with a knock. Stewart has hurt his hamstring before halftime. Eddie Hutchinson hasn’t played for god knows how long. Stewart played well, but without a doubt he was going to tire. He done well and stuck to it. Full credit to Luton they are crowned the champions and we have given them three great games this season. What they have done is what we have to aim for next season.
When you have 4 people booked at half-time, you certainly can’t afford to go down to 10 men. There had to be an air of caution. Those decision making tackles had to be spot on. When the captain is struggling with a hamstring, I wanted to keep him on. Deon Burton took a knock and he was struggling. It wasn’t really about the substitutions, its about everyone giving it a go. We have given them a proper good hard game here.
We could have passed the ball better, but again playing under pressure and defending the lead is not easy. It takes time to do it, dealing and coping and playing at places like this against good teams. They will be better for it.
We did look comfortable, but then Stewart Talbot had to go off with an injury. Eddie Hutchinson has only played 20 minutes in one reserve game. He has been out for what must be a month. It’s taken its toll, and it’s very hot out there. But you can’t knock them for their effort and their attitude. Fair play to them – you have to give Luton Town a lot of credit for being champions of the league. We have come here and had a good go at them.
I thought it was a great game of football, good atmosphere from both ends, competitive all over and just disappointed we couldn’t hold on.
Wrexham are a good side – I saw them play on Tuesday night and they were comfortable winners against Port Vale. No doubt, Tuesday will be a tough game.
The pressure of last season could help us. Whatever happens, if the players have a go like they did today then, you know? As long as our players have a go, whatever they do, where we are, as long as our players have a go like they did today, then I’ll be very happy with them. I haven’t had a go at any of them in the changing room – I have patted them all on the back and shook their hands. We have given Luton Town the champions a real good hard game.
4-2 is a done deal. It doesn’t look good on paper, but it certainly wasn’t a 4-2 game. The last goal was half a yard out of play on our side, but that’s neither here or there. When did Sodje have that one off that line? Well, you can’t knock them. They did us proud. Over the season we have beaten them twice. You know we have matched them all the way and people can see we have had a few knocks we had to contend with. That’s life and we have to get on with it. We can’t do anything about that unfortunately, people get knocks and they have to come off injured. We have to be patient.
I don’t know if Tabb will be fit to play on Tuesday. He wasn’t fit today, as he hasn’t trained, so we’ll have to see tomorrow morning when we come back in and reassess."
It was demanding and hard out there and all the players were aware of how difficult a game it was. We gave a great account of ourselves. They do every week. We didn’t manage to pass it as well as we wanted to in the second half. All in all I am very proud of the players especially the way they conducted themselves and the way they played.
Jay Tabb wasn’t fit as he has flu, that’s why he didn’t play. I always said I will use the squad and it’s the squad I will use. None of the players let us down – they never do, but today it wasn’t enough. We played well – you can’t knock them when they do that.
They put pressure on us, which is what you expect when they have been crowned the champions. They wont go to just sit there and play 5-a-side football and see the day through. They are not the champions of this league for nothing.
I wont have any problem lifting them for Tuesday – I will just get on with it.
Deon was struggling with a knock. Stewart has hurt his hamstring before halftime. Eddie Hutchinson hasn’t played for god knows how long. Stewart played well, but without a doubt he was going to tire. He done well and stuck to it. Full credit to Luton they are crowned the champions and we have given them three great games this season. What they have done is what we have to aim for next season.
When you have 4 people booked at half-time, you certainly can’t afford to go down to 10 men. There had to be an air of caution. Those decision making tackles had to be spot on. When the captain is struggling with a hamstring, I wanted to keep him on. Deon Burton took a knock and he was struggling. It wasn’t really about the substitutions, its about everyone giving it a go. We have given them a proper good hard game here.
We could have passed the ball better, but again playing under pressure and defending the lead is not easy. It takes time to do it, dealing and coping and playing at places like this against good teams. They will be better for it.
We did look comfortable, but then Stewart Talbot had to go off with an injury. Eddie Hutchinson has only played 20 minutes in one reserve game. He has been out for what must be a month. It’s taken its toll, and it’s very hot out there. But you can’t knock them for their effort and their attitude. Fair play to them – you have to give Luton Town a lot of credit for being champions of the league. We have come here and had a good go at them.
I thought it was a great game of football, good atmosphere from both ends, competitive all over and just disappointed we couldn’t hold on.
Wrexham are a good side – I saw them play on Tuesday night and they were comfortable winners against Port Vale. No doubt, Tuesday will be a tough game.
The pressure of last season could help us. Whatever happens, if the players have a go like they did today then, you know? As long as our players have a go, whatever they do, where we are, as long as our players have a go like they did today, then I’ll be very happy with them. I haven’t had a go at any of them in the changing room – I have patted them all on the back and shook their hands. We have given Luton Town the champions a real good hard game.
4-2 is a done deal. It doesn’t look good on paper, but it certainly wasn’t a 4-2 game. The last goal was half a yard out of play on our side, but that’s neither here or there. When did Sodje have that one off that line? Well, you can’t knock them. They did us proud. Over the season we have beaten them twice. You know we have matched them all the way and people can see we have had a few knocks we had to contend with. That’s life and we have to get on with it. We can’t do anything about that unfortunately, people get knocks and they have to come off injured. We have to be patient.
I don’t know if Tabb will be fit to play on Tuesday. He wasn’t fit today, as he hasn’t trained, so we’ll have to see tomorrow morning when we come back in and reassess."