Steve Evans believes Bristol Rovers' performance against Chesterfield did not merit any points after the Gas fell to a 2-0 defeat to the Spireites.
Paul Cook's men scored either side of half-time to secure victory, with Louie Marsh bending a clever effort into the bottom corner to give the visitors the lead before Lee Bonis made the most of a mistake from Shaq Forde to double his team's advantage 15 minutes from the end.
Rovers looked to have turned a corner with two cup wins to start November, beating Cambridge United in the Emirates FA Cup before success over Reading in the Jersey Mike's Trophy, but have now lost six of their previous seven in the fourth tier.
Evans delivered an honest reflection to the media after the game, looking back at the performance and his side's recent struggles.
REFLECTIONS ON THE MATCH
“I think after half an hour, we don't recognise the team that beat Cambridge. We don't recognise them, but that's been a problem most of the season. You know, the inconsistencies.
“We're trying to use our experience to find a formula and a shape and a team and individuals that collectively come together and can deliver it. You know, for 30 minutes I'm watching a team that took a really good team apart in spells last Friday night.
“Toward the first half, we had to change it. If I hadn't changed it, it would have been more damage at half-time. I think the changes did work. I think we started the second half really brightly. A little bit more care and a bit more quality in the final third, I think we probably get through them, and it's a different game.
“Then Shaq makes a cardinal mistake, doesn't he? It's unfortunate because at that stage of the game they were camped in. I just spoke to an ex-player of mine, who said we were camped in when you gave us a second goal. You know, that's not the level of performance that's going to win games against the top sides, so they're a top side.”
FIRST HALF CHANGES
“I was tempted after 15 minutes, but you're trying to allow the game to settle. You try to allow for players to find a second wind and find their energy levels, but at 25 minutes, we had to change it.
“We tried to bring a different idea to the game; we had to get control in the middle of the park, because we had none. Chesterfield is built as a possession-based team.
“We got control in the middle of the pitch. We didn't have the quality in the final third at any stage, no matter what we did, when we introduced the two wide players and four wing players in the end, but we did have the quality to hurt them.”
THE SECOND GOAL
“Listen, you don't score the second goal if you don't make a big mistake. It's a huge mistake. I know how the kid will be feeling tonight, so I don't need to take him down anymore, but we don't seem to be able to have those mistakes go in our favour.”
STEP BACK AFTER CUP SUCCESS
It's a big step back. We said that it's three steps forward last week and five back today. Listen, I've always said, I'll base it on performance. Results ultimately come from performances.
"People can see what they like, but our performance today didn't merit us getting anything over the piece because in 30 minutes we were atrocious."
NEEDING THE BASICS
“I think passion, I think, fight, energy, commitment. That’s all the basics. We delivered none of the basics in the first 25, 30 minutes of the game.
"If you don't run, you don't win. We didn't run the first thirty minutes. Listen, we ran thereafter. I've got no complaints if you took the second half in isolation.
“I'd say a big mistake is the difference in the teams in the second half versus a lot of good play with us, but without a final product, if you don't have a final product, you're not going to open the door.”
CHELTENHAM PREVIEW
“It's always going to be tough. You’re going to Steve Cotterill’s Cheltenham side, who are very good. Particularly at Whaddon Road, they are very good, so we know how tough that will be.
“We have to pick a team, first and foremost, that works hard and fights. We got that right in the second half, but we make a huge mistake, and it gives away any chance of taking someone out of the game.
“But I still turn up at half past six in the morning. I still leave at six o'clock at night. I still go and watch opposition. I still do the analysis. Paul Raynor is obviously not around, but Byron's come in, Lee Tomlin, the medical staff are working so hard. What's changed? I know what’s changed: inconsistent players."
