Scott Fitzgerald On The United Game

Last updated : 29 January 2007 By Thetashkentterror
Bees manager Scott Fitzgerald (centre)
Bees boss Scott Fitzgerald spoke to Brentford's Official Website about his side's 0-0 draw at home to the Blues on Saturday, Fitzgerald talking about what the Bees will need in the future if they are to avoid the drop into League Two :


"Taking a point against Carlisle wasn't enough. We are after three points in every home game. I felt we didn't put them under enough pressure to deserve the points anyway. I can't fault the players' effort, but when we got down into the final third a lack of quality and decision making meant we paid the price really. I'm disappointed not to put them under more pressure for the home side.

"We've brought Neil Shipperley in to do a job for us and I think he's going to be a very good signing. He's scored loads of goals from crosses, but if we get down into those areas and check back and play safe he's not going to score any goals for us. We've got to be on our front foot and be positive and get crosses in the box.

"We have no rules as such and when you get in the final third you must express yourself. But today I felt we had too many people who didn't want to express themselves. Neil has shown in training what he can offer and today on the pitch he was talking to the players. He will lead by example. He hasn't played first team football for a while but I felt his fitness was decent and he'll get better with every game.

"He felt a little twinge in his hamstring. He's had a stiff back for a few days and it might be coming from there. He said he wasn't sure whether it was cramp or not. We'll get him in and assess it over the next couple of days. Jo Kuffour and Charlie Ide linked well at times with Neil, but I felt their two centre backs had it too easy. It will take time to build a relationship or partnership up but we don't have time. Neil's in the side to stop the ball coming back and I felt he did a good job.

"Beyond 25 points or so it's effort, quality and attitude - what every other manager down there at the moment is saying to their side. Confidence, I felt at times we lacked a little bit at times. Some people just hooked it on up the pitch when there was time to bring it down. That's a lack of confidence. You've got to build from the back, and to get our first clean sheet since I took over - as a former defender myself - I'm pleased with. That's the major positive we can take from today. But we're going to need more than that. A hell of a lot more than that."