Our five match unbeaten run came to an end on Monday, as we lost to Cheltenham at Whaddon Road.
With it, came the end of our run of five consecutive clean sheets.
Manager Terry Skiverton spoke to the press.
‘I think the boys have given me everything, they couldn’t have given me any more. I think we created enough chances to win the game but unfortunately we couldn’t quite get the ball in the net and it’s cost us today. But really pleased with the run that we have been on, it’s just a shame for Chris Weale and our back four who had so many clean sheets but we’ve just got to keep on now and fight on and next week is going to be another big game for us’
The opening 20 minutes saw us start brightly with chances for Obika, Townsend and Tomlin.
‘I thought we was going to take the advantage, kicking with the slight hill on the pitch and there was a breeze behind us and we thought we’d take the advantage early and see if we could go a goal up but it didn’t quite work for us. Even in the second half when we went down to ten men we still created one or two chances, clear-cut chances to score. They defended well, they’ve been doing that. We had the report on them and they defended really well against Peterborough as well to get a draw so you’ve got to hold your hands up and say we didn’t quite do it today but very very pleased with the commitment and the effort, if anything I think they was a little bit over committed today’
Midfielder Gary Roberts has come in for some criticism after a poor challenge that should really have seen him get a straight red rather than a second yellow. Our discipline this season really has been poor, we are in the top five worst teams in league one for Yellow and Red Cards received as well as fouls committed. I like commitment and players to challenge to win the ball, however, some of the bookings we have received are for playground type back chat to the ref, something I hope Skiverton will be looking to stamp out during his reign.
‘When you’ve got players like that they do live on the edge a little bit but I’m not going to take that away from them. I spoke to Gary and the only disappointing thing is that he’ll be missing for one or two games now because it takes him over ten. I want them to get about the pitch, I want them to put their foot in and I don’t want anybody else to play so if anything that’s a bit my fault. I can’t have a go at him for trying hard and trying to get there and get his foot in but the same happened with Kieran Murtagh, he was walking a tight-rope with his yellow card. I don’t think Gary Roberts is quite as smart as Kieran Murtagh, he just runs around like a bull in a china shop and tries to kick anything. A little bit disappointed today but happy with what they’ve given me in the last four /five games’
Kieran Murtagh seems to be flourishing now that he is being given a run in the side and seems to have found the form that he displayed at Charlton in the League Cup early in the season. His shot that came back off the post was one of our better chances.
‘Kieran’s one that came off the post and Jon Obika had a good chance and then Gavin Tomlin which come off his head and his shoulder which I think he should have finished. Gavin and Jon have been excellent for us and have got us into this position we’re in at the moment. I’m not all of a sudden going to start having a go at them because their work-rate and their effort and the way that they move and the way that they’re playing for the team is working really well and we’ve just got to kick on from here and hopefully we get a win next week against Hartlepool and put in a performance for our home supporters. The supporters that have come away today were absolutely fantastic, they was behind us and even after the game they was clapping and cheering. I think they appreciate the effort that the boys put in’
The bottom of league one is very tight and although our safety is in our own hands any sort of slip up will see the teams below us take advantage and make the last couple games very uncomfortable.
‘What we don’t want to do now is go on a losing run. We need to bounce back, I knew it was going to be interesting when we went a goal behind, how we would react, I felt that we reacted well but just couldn’t quite get the goal. So I’ve learnt a few things today on the team and on the boys and what I did learn I was really happy with’
Finally, Bristol City keeper Adriano Basso was injured today, meaning that keeper Chris Weale could get recalled by Gary Johnson.
Skiverton stated that although he would like to keep hold of Chris that it would give Wagenaar a chance to come back in and do well.
