Reaction From Pirates Boss Dave Penney

Last updated : 16 January 2011 By Thetashkentterror

Dave Penney
Bristol Rovers manager Dave Penney spoke to his club's official website after his side's 4-0 defeat at Carlisle, Penney saying that the Gas missed plenty of good opportunites to score in the opening period of the game :


"We decided to kick into the wind in the first half and for 44 minutes I felt we put in a perfect performance, other than putting the ball in the back of the net. We had three or four great chances, and hit the crossbar, while Jo Kuffour found himself in a one on one situation and shot wide and Will Hoskins saw an effort hacked off the line.

"From getting to a point where I was delighted with our performance, and thinking we were going into the half time interval on level terms, a penalty was awarded against us. I've had another look at it and feel the decision was harsh, at best, but we still had to be pleased going into the half time break knowing that we had the elements in our favour in the second half and realising that if we continued creating chances we were hoping that we could go on and win the game.

"I've also watched the sending off incident again, and it's another that I thought was very harsh. You don't seem to be able to make a tackle nowadays. Danny Coles won the ball with a great challenge. It wasn't a two footed one, it was one you want your centre halves to make and he ended up coming to sit alongside me.

"I don't know whether or not we will appeal against the decision. If the appeal is lost, it means another one game suspension so possibly not. It was tough watching after that and I had a little go at the players afterwards, because when you go a goal behind you have to stay in the game and I can see why so many goals have been conceded. "



"We need to man manage the game better in that respect, and the players have to keep us in the game as long as possible, because I can then make decisions and substitutions such as going three at the back in the last 10 or 15 minutes to try to get something from the game.

"For example for their fourth goal we were bombing on again. There's not enough experience in the side to make sure we don't concede more goals and make things look any worse. Naivety, game management and man management all come into play and are things we have to instil into the players.

"If we can hang on at 1-0 long enough to give me options, or time to make decisions in terms of substitutions so much the better. I know now why so many goals have been conceded and there's a lot of food for thought.

"Wherever I am I insist that the players applaud their fans, win, lose or draw. I thought our fans were superb today and it was very important that we went across to them to show our appreciation. We gave them a lot to cheer in the first half today, but not in the second half.

"There will be at least one new signing and, as the days go by, we will keep trying to add to the squad. My first priority has always been defenders as I like to build from the back but I would like to bring in a defender, a midfielder and a striker."