The Dugout Reaction!

A disjointed performance cost Rangers Reserves when they let Rothwell FC Reserves race into a three-goal lead within 20 minutes. A superb fightback, despite the dismissal of Andy Maxted, in the second half gave Rangers hope, but in the end, the visitors left with a 4-3 win and all the points!

Following the game, Manager Kris Macdonald spoke to the Media Officer. Here is what he had to say about …

The comeback being great, but difficult when three goals down.

Yeah, you’ve hit the nail right on the head. For the first twenty minutes shape wise we were all over the place and couldn’t get to grips with their number 8 who, to be fair, took his goals really well. We tried to counter this, but for reasons unknown we didn’t and couldn’t get our shape. This ultimately led to them racing into a three-goal lead within the first 15-20 minutes.

On being direct with the team at half time and the response it provoked.

I just said to them that myself, John-Paul and Plewsy (Chris Plews) do a lot of hard work behind the scenes and to see a performance like that for 45 minutes is very frustrating. I told them to use their heads and think about what they were doing. To be fair, they knew it was a poor performance and after I had finished given them a bit of a telling off, some of the senior players stepped up and said things as well which the team needed to do. As you can see, it worked as we could have scored three ourselves within 20 minutes of the restart.

At the end of the game, I said we were absolutely superb in the second half, even though we had lost, we played so much better, even with ten men, although this can sometimes spur you on to play better and smarter.

On the chances made.

We made some quality chances and the amount that we made was also pleasing. Sam Straker has been unlucky to hit the post with a great shot and then there have been several that with a bit more wits about us and a bit more luck we could have converted. It’s just been the start of the game that has cost us dearly in the end.

On the defence stepping it up as well.

It wasn’t just the attack that responded, I thought that the whole team lifted. Mike McCartney and Rich Jenner made two brilliant goal-line clearances and Lewis (Mallinson) was absolutely superb in goal today. I have to say thank you as well to Brad who played out of position at left-back, but did really well and Jonny (Atkinson) who came back into the team after an absence.

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