Assistant manager Gav Skelton gave us his reaction to the away reserve game in Blackburn shortly after full-time on Wednesday afternoon.
“I don’t think the score was a complete reflection of the performance and I’m disappointed that we conceded twice in the last two minutes,” he said. “That made it 3-0 and it’s probably right to say that doesn’t put a fair spin on the game at all.
“I’ve just spoken to the lads in the dressing room and we saw some pleasing stuff, and a number of frustrating things as well.
“The really good thing from it overall is that a number of them needed the game, and they’re all going to benefit from what was a very tough workout.
“I’ve just been thinking about it and apart from Chorley that’s the first 90 minutes a lot of them will have played for a while. That’s why we need to organise and play these games.
“If they don’t play on Saturday there’s another game coming for them next week, so that keeps everybody topped up and ready to go if they’re needed.”
“We had some good individual performances, and that’s always pleasing to see,” he added. “Having said that, there are others you would want a little bit more from, and that’s another reason why you want competitive game time.
“It reminds everybody of where the level is at, because you can never replicate the intensity you get even from reserve games in training, no matter how hard you try.
“With our performance, it was almost what we’ve been talking about with our first team games so far. We got into some really good areas and had so many nearly moments.
“We worked the keeper on a number of occasions and we’re disappointed not to have scored from some of them.
“Our keeper made some really good saves for us, and that was really pleasing to see. He showed a good command of his box and he never shuts up. His communication is excellent.
“But, yes, we have to say that it’s frustrating for us in that final third because we play good stuff and work so hard to get there, we just aren’t getting the reward of goals at the moment. We’ll keep working on it because it’s just that final bit of quality that can make all the difference.
“We saw it from them, and let’s be right about it, they had some players involved who have played regularly in the Championship. You can see the difference in the way players of that level can pass and move sometimes and they punished us in the end.”
It was a first runout in a fruit salad shirt for forward Terry Ablade.
“He was always due to get an hour and he showed what he can bring to us,” he told us. “He has that pace and directness about his play and he was a real threat going forward.
“We’d already decided that he’d do his 60 minutes whatever happened, but when he did come off we kind of lost that pace and threat down the right flank.
“It was good to get some of the youth team lads on, they’ll have enjoyed that. It’s always a good experience for them and it will have done them the world of good. Again, they get to see the quality of players from that next level up.
“You could see with the way we conceded two right at the end there that everybody needed to get that time into their legs.
“I wouldn’t say we were out on our feet, or anything like that, but it’s concentration and decision making when you haven’t played regularly.
“It’s about deciding when to track runners and who to go with, and they can be moments that cost goals or, at the other end, create chances.
“We lost the penalty through tiredness and with the game petering out it was disappointing to concede another.
“But in terms of the benefits from it, there are plenty. Fitness, performance levels from some, attitude and some of the football, we have to be pleased with those aspects.”
