Macauley Southam-Hales stated that the players have a lot of work to do next week after falling to a 3-2 defeat to York City in Sky Bet League Two.
In an eagerly anticipated first game of the league season, the hosts had most of the ball and the better chances in the opening exchanges before Clinton Mola gave the Gas the lead in the first half.
However, the Pirates slipped to a defeat after conceding three second-half goals. Tommy Leigh's penalty cancelled out quick efforts from Alex Newby and Harry Boyes before the latter headed in the winner.
Speaking to the media after the contest, Southam-Hales said his side must do better in what turned out to be a disappointing weekend...
DEFEAT AFTER AN EARLY LEAD
“Yeah, it's always difficult. I think we got a goal, to be honest, against the run of play. They started really well. It took us a while to get to grips with the game and get a goal against the run of play. We should do better, really, to hold onto that for longer, but yeah, ultimately a disappointing weekend."
YORK'S FIRST HALF POSSESSION
"As a defender, in those situations, you get asked many, many questions, with their rotations. We know what their gaffer is about, and they do ask you questions. They did not create many chances, but they get themselves in areas and overloadwide areas and things like that. So, it's a puzzle to work out on the pitch, but we’ve got to do better than that."
CONCEDING THREE IN THE SECOND HALF
"As I said, not a great weekend. We’ve got to look at ourselves in those positions and do better. We'll go through the goals and pick the bones out of them and get better. Ultimately, we've got a lot of work to do next week.”
COMEBACK AFTER INJURY
“I've always had high standards for myself in terms of the off-season and being unfortunate with injuries.
“I had to put the work in, but I'll put the work in day in and day out and what I do away from the training ground is how I hold my head up and work away in the darkness. But ultimately, hopefully that puts me in good stead for the remainder of the season.”
