After a disappointing 3-2 defeat at the hands of Gainsborough Trinity, Kevin Roberts has outlined that defensive errors are continuing to prevent the Shaymen from winning vital games.
Captain Liam King and a debut goal from loan signing Alex Simmons twice put the Shaymen ahead, only for Jordan Thewlis and Ashley Worsfold to give the home side the three points. Something that Roberts believes could have easily been prevented.
“The three goals we gave away just wasn’t good enough. We could have been 4-0 up in the first half but it counts for nothing when you give silly goals away like that”
“Even when they got the first one I still think we should have gone into half time at 2-1, but we managed to shoot ourselves in the foot again and we go into half time at 2-2 which obviously gives them a big boost”
“We gave a silly free kick away for the third goal and they got a bit of luck with the deflection but still, we have given it away and we just need to start cutting out silly mistakes”
“Football-wise, tonight was one of our better games but on Saturday we played against Stalybridge and we were awful but we still won, I’d rather get the three points that way”
Despite the mistakes occurring primarily in the defensive areas, Roberts says that the team as a whole need to improve if they are to get more points on the board.
“That’s the main one, if you cut them out you keep a clean sheet and we win the game. The main thing we have got to improve is defensively, not just the back four but as a team”
“We are giving silly free kicks away all around the pitch at the moment, giving teams who aren’t in the game a chance to put the ball in the box. Stupid mistakes are costing us at the moment badly”
“They’ve been common, not many teams have actually scored a good goal against us or carved us open. They’ve all been stupid goals and people aren’t working for goals. We are having to work for our goals and scoring some really good ones so it is an issue and we have got to address it”
The game saw new signing Simmons thrown straight into the starting 11, making an instant impact among Shaymen fans. It only took 13 minutes for him to open his goal tally for Town before he went on to assist King who made it 2-1, with Roberts among those impressed by the Lincoln loanee.
“I’ve only seen the 90 minutes you have seen, he hasn’t even trained with us but he looked very lively, nice left foot, direct and like you said he has come up with the goal and assist. Even though we got beat that was probably one of the positives from the game”
You can watch the full interview with Roberts along with more post-match reaction from Billy Heath and Steven Drench on Shaymen Player HD. Stay tuned to the website to read previews of this Saturday’s FA Cup qualifying game against Ashton Athletic.
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