Jack Aitchison was disappointed after Bristol Rovers fell to a 3-0 defeat to Gillingham, but said his side must not get too down with plenty of the Sky Bet League Two season remaining.
The Pirates lost for a second successive time after losing 2-0 to Grimsby Town last weekend, but after four straight victories in the fourth tier before a tough set of results, the Gas are still in a good place.
Rovers are sixth in the table, one point outside the top three places with 39 games left to play. Aitchison, who made his first league start in the blue-and-white quarters, knows there is a long season ahead.
Speaking to the media after the game, Aitchison reflected on the defeat, insisting his team have high standards and should be beating Gillingham.
REFLECTIONS ON THE GAME
"It's disappointing, isn't it? Away last week, we got beat; away this week, we got beat, and we've got higher standards than that. So, yeah, everybody's a bit deflated, but it's the start of the season. We've still got a long, long season to play.
"In the first ten minutes, I had a feeling that we could go and win by two or three. At half-time, he said an extra 10 per cent, and we'd win the game, and I don't think we've done that. I think they've actually done that, and that's how it ended."
CHANGES IN THE SECOND HALF
"I couldn't tell you what happened, to be fair. I felt in the first half we won the first ball, second contact, and in the second half we did none of that. You've seen it before at Grimsby; you've seen it at York, and that's when we get beaten.
"We should be winning these games, if I'm honest. I felt Grimsby last week was a bit of a different game. I felt they were really physical, but that's how we base our game, so I was disappointed. But like I said, we've still got a long season to play, and we can't get too down."
FIRST LEAGUE START
"I'm really pleased, but I'm disappointed not to play more. Tommy Leigh has been bright, and I think he's been one of our better players, and we missed him a bit today, to be honest. But yeah, happy to come in and hopefully next week I'll play, but that's up to the gaffer.
"I feel like it's a bit of a different feel at home. I felt our away fans today were good as well, and it's a long journey, so we appreciate the travelling. We know it's not easy, so we always appreciate the away fans as well."
STILL HIGH IN THE TABLE
"We want to be at the top. I've been promoted before winning this league, and we know it's not easy. We know at the start of the season it's not easy, and at the start of the season you would have taken the position we're in. But as I said, we have higher standards in the squad we've got, and we should be at the very top."
EXPERIENCE IN THE DRESSING ROOM
"We've got Quigs, Ellis Harrison — two great people. Ellis is particularly a big one for not letting the standards drop. Richie Smallwood as well. So, we've got good people in the changing room, people we respect. We need to get into training next week and go again."
CHANCE FOR 11 STRAIGHT HOME LEAGUE WINS
"That would be good. But I think that's probably the least of our concerns at the moment — we actually need to score a goal. But yeah, back on the training field with a fresh mind at the start of the week and go again."
