Steve Evans does not believe his Bristol Rovers team deserved anything from their 3-1 defeat to Fleetwood Town in Sky Bet League Two.
The Pirates had lost their previous four away fixtures in the fourth tier and were always going to be tested against a confident Fleetwood side after they knocked Premier League champions Arsenal out of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
The Cod Army had a two-goal lead heading into the closing stages after goals from Aaron Loupalo-Bi and Rhys Bennett either side of half-time before Reiss Russell-Denny got one back for the Pirates. However, Rovers could not level. Josh Robertson scored for Fleetwood moments after Russell-Denny's effort to complete the Cod Army's victory.
Speaking to the media after the match, Evans feels the Gas are suffering because of several key players missing and knows his side must work hard to turn their form around.
REFLECTIONS ON THE MATCH
“Well, I don't think we deserved anything. I think the first half was hard for us. They've obviously got a little bit of momentum, but we didn't feel we worked to the plan that we'd worked on for a couple of days and talked them through.
“We got the opportunity to change at half-time. I had to bring someone on who is no better than 60 per cent fit, but I needed a presence up the pitch, brought him on, and I don't think we really came to life at any stage.
“We introduced two young men, one at 18, one at 20, just to bring us some life and some energy, and people want run about and drive and they did, and at one point, we were, for a few minutes, we looked as if we were in the game.”
PLAYERS NEEDING TO WORK HARD
“Your two tens have to be the hardest-working players on the pitch because they and you wing-backs have to be the hardest working; it's quite simple. If you're not the hardest-working, it'll be a problem.
“I'm not saying the boys didn't try. You're trying, but hard working is also working smart, and they couldn't get themselves into the game. The only time we got a foothold in the game, we succumbed with midfield players not tracking runners.
“When you do that, when you've got back into the game at 2-1, and you don't track a midfield runner, you're going to concede.”
INJURY PROBLEMS
"That's not my team out there. Look at the players that are sitting at home. I worked ever so hard with Ellis Harrison. He had three or four options in League Two. People thought he had none.
“You take Tommy Leigh, you take Harbottle, you take Jack Aitchison. We’ve got two or three others. Bobby Kamwa. I think we said seven players at home; six would, I think I said pre-game, five or six would start. That doesn't change.
“That's not saying that we shouldn't be a better squad, but you can't go without six who start the games. So, that doesn't reflect anything about my team. But you know, I take the plaudits when I came in last season, and I take the praise when we have a good start.
“I always knew within myself and my experience, myself and Paul, that there would be a time when it doesn't go right, and at a time when, if we did have a lot of injuries, we would perhaps struggle for a little bit, and that time is now, so as much as the criticism will come, I know that's part and parcel of football, same as I took the plaudits."
MISSING PLAYERS
“We’re also missing some tenacity at the back, you know. Kofi Balmer has been a big, big player for us. He was poor last week. Let me be clear on that: he was poor.
“But there's another one we're missing that we've not even named in the previous summary of players. So, we're missing some big players, but we have to grind this out, and the medical department has to work over time, and we need to try and get some of these boys back as quickly as we can.
“But I also understand, as an experienced manager, that sometimes it does take time because injuries have certain specific time scales. In the meantime, we have to button down the hatches and take all the criticism, and despite us being atrocious for the last month, we're four points off the playoffs. And we're atrocious. That tells you about the league.”
AWAY GAMES
"You can be fragile, but you can run. Some don't run to that. That will remain in-house; I've just said to them who it was. But our supporters are not silly people.
“In fact, the very understanding of the game, I think, for ten minutes in the second half, when we got a goal back from Reiss, a little bit of magic from a very gifted kid, who actually ran about and put himself about today more than he's done in a while, and it was really good to see, because I had a good chat with him in the week.
“Young Phil came on and had to come on and had to play in a striker's position as a wide player; you know he's a winger. And I thought the two gave us a little bit of impetus."
REISS RUSSELL-DENNY’S GOAL
“Listen, he's a special talent in terms of being on the ball. He's had to come to us and learn the other side of football, which is the dark arts in running, and I had a long, long chat with him in the week, and he's got onto the pitch today, and sometimes, I've always said to players, don't come into my office and sit and talk and make a point; do it on the pitch.
“Same as the manager, the Gasheads don't want to hear me tonight making excuses about injuries and suspensions, and that. But also, what I'd say to them is, get a bit of paper and write them down.
"How many of them would start for them, without me getting emotional. How many of them would start for them? I suggest six or seven. So don't tell me this is a Steve Evans team, because it's not.”
FA CUP PREVIEW
“We’ll have to take the pain, and I'll take the criticism, and I'll stand in front of the dressing room. Some of the players have given absolutely everything and more. Some are low in confidence, which, away from home, which you'd expect.
“So, we need to raise ourselves for a big FA Cup tie next week, get back on the training ground and work hard, because there is no other answer.
“You know, we’re not suddenly able to bring four youth team players up and think they could play against Cambridge United in an FA Cup tie at The Mem. We need to remember that when we go back to league action, which is great, which gives us a two-week break from that, we go back four points off the playoffs, and let's start the season when we get three or four of these players back. When people knock me and put me down, they see a reaction; we win games.”
