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Manager's Assessment - Basford United

Manager's Assessment - Basford United

Nigel Oldrini1 Jan - 21:27

'Even with ten men, I thought there was only one team that even wanted to win the game.'

Well, I didn't see it (Fankwe’s red card offence), but no-one's complained so it's definitely a red. It's very, very difficult for me to put into words how I feel about that because Jordan got sent off last week and that cost us a game. Today it would have been easy to leave him out of the team because of what he did last week, but I thought he owes us one.

So, we'll put him in, we'll trust him and then exactly the same again. I mean he stood up there and apologised to the lads for about two minutes solid, but yes, he obviously has to take accountability for that, and I say learn from it, but he should have learned from the last one. I obviously take a big portion of the blame because obviously I'm sat there reflecting straight away saying I shouldn't have played him, but these players are here because they're good footballers and I have to trust them.

If I don't trust them, there's no point in being here. That's obviously set him back in terms of where he stands with us, we'll have to have a look at that moving forward. So yes, I've got to take my fair share of the crap for that, but he's killed us there because even with ten men for an hour, we were by far and away the better team there.

Even with ten men, I thought there was only one team that even wanted to win the game. KPs had nothing to do, second half, I think a bit more luck in front of goal again, we win the game. But I think all in all we just have to be happy with the point because you go down to ten men after half an hour and then you concede really quickly and that's the disappointing bit.

So, you've got to try and remain solid until at least half-time and then reassess things. We conceded straight away, but good response from the players and I think we've had a few things levelled at us this last week that I think have been unfair about work ethic and looking like a team and stuff. No-one can doubt that they look like a team today, we look like a side who fought for each other, who fought for every ball, who ran on empty towards the end.

So, I'm pleased with that, I'm pleased with huge amounts, many aspects of that game. Of course, we wanted to come into the game and aim for three points, but given the circumstances against third in the league, these haven't lost in I think nine as well. In the end, you take that point, but towards the end there's only one team going to win that.

Look, I've said about Gratton loads of times, he's obviously a hell of a player, but we need more of him, in terms of work ethic and desire as well because even when the chips are down, he stands up and that's what you need. He carries us in large parts of games where he's getting us on the front foot and he can drive sixty yards with a ball, find clever passes.

Diego, one chance, one goal and we brought him off because he's not played for three or four weeks and chasing up there on your own for an hour is tough. So, we had to get Liam's legs up there, but again, you saw Diego's quality when he dips into the pocket and spins it around corners and he'll bring another dimension to us, there's no doubt about that.

Special mention for me for Tom (Eccleshall) at left-back as well, who I thought was exceptional. First game at this level for a long time and I thought he was front foot, I thought he carried the ball well, got us up the pitch and what he actually allowed us to do at half-time.

We subbed Fenton off to essentially play Grattan next to Curt and Lewis to make it a three-man midfield still and let Tom give us the width and he's still got the legs to do that and even in the 90th minute, he's up there trying to get the other thing, he got us a corner.

I thought Evo was brilliant today, I thought KP distribution-wise was superb, I could name them all. I thought that was a good performance, I did and we've been let down by the red card.

I don't need to say too much more on that now, but if we play like that every week and we keep eleven on the pitch, we'll win a lot of games. So that's the marker now moving forward, that heart and desire, that can't be questioned again because I get messages from fans and stuff and don't always share them with the players, but I did say today it's the first time in probably three years that I've been here where individuals are getting called out. I said, take some pride in your work and don't let that be you, don't let that be us.

We showed a bit more grit today, like I say, in front of goal, we still have four or five chances that we've got to score. No-one misses them on purpose, but we have to control the balls and reactions off the ball and stuff, that just has to be better.

Lee Attenborough was talking to Chris Nelson.

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