Keith Curle with Luton match reaction
Manager Keith Curle gave us his reaction to the away defeat at Luton on Saturday evening.
“My initial thoughts are that we were a little bit flat,” he said. “The preparation was good and we knew what we wanted to do at the start of the game, but we didn’t get the impetus we needed.
“Our balls forward weren’t hitting the right areas and we weren’t showing enough quality when we had possession. We got outmanoeuvred in midfield and that affected us with the fact we weren’t getting on the front foot enough.”
“That was the reason behind the change at half time, because I felt we needed more energy in that area,” he added. “Overall we’ve competed against a very good team who have good strengths. Their front two are excellent for this division and they have threats in other areas. We’ve come up against a very good team and given them a very good game.
“Like I say, it was one of those days where we didn’t really find our tempo. We brought David Amoo on to get into the wide areas but we didn’t get the ball out to him enough. That meant he came looking for it, because he’s desperate to do well, and that needs a little bit of understanding that sometimes you need to stay patient.”
“We had a few half chances and the ball fell for us a couple of times,” he commented. “But the one thing I do know is that 100% of shots that go over the bar will leave you with no chance of scoring a goal.
“People seemed to get excited when they got sight of goal, and we’ll remind them that they have got to hit the target. Anything can happen if you at least work the keeper.”
“Their goal was down to good movement from Mark Cullen,” he told us. “He took it well and it’s difficult to comment on whether we should have got a block, or made a save, because I haven’t been able watch it back yet.
“I don’t think they can complain about the red card. I would have liked to have seen Sweens go through, lob the keeper and score a goal, but their defender knew that. In this case he took one for the team.
“We did lack a bit of quality after the sending off. They looked more dangerous when they went down to ten men because we’d emptied the middle of the pitch in our desire to get men forward. Again, we didn’t have the patience in our approach which would have allowed us to create the space and the holes we needed.”
“Our aim in every game will remain the same,” he said. “We’ll go out there to stop the opposition so we get the right to play our game. The squad we have at the moment isn’t ready to go out and win games based solely on ability. We have to earn the right to play in the right areas first.
“I know where we want to go with this but it takes time. We’re competing against very good sides at the moment so we’re going in the right direction.”
On the potential for transfer window activity, he said: “I’m always looking at the loan window. I’ve got a list of players and sometimes it’s about moving at the right time. We want the right players at this club and I have a meeting tomorrow morning with Lee Dykes, our head of recruitment, because he’s had people out to look at two players we are interested in today.
“If it’s right for us we will bring them in, but it isn’t about panic. It’s about getting players we think will help us to push on.”
And on the latest situation with the Kyle Dempsey contract talks, he said: “We agreed and finalised a new deal with him and his representatives yesterday. He’s committed himself to the football club again, and it gives him the opportunity to carry on with his progression and development. It will take him through to the summer of 2016 which suits him, and us, at this moment in time.
“It has taken a while to finalise it but it was one of those where it needed to be right. We wanted to give him what we feel he’s worth, as well as make sure he has added incentives in there. You want players to be happy and, now we have this sorted, we know we’ve got there with that.
“I’ve never been in any doubt that Kyle is committed to this football club and I’m looking forward to helping his development even more.”
