INTERVIEW: We're better than where we are

“We are very disappointed with the result,” he said. “I thought we were well in the game, and it was a slice of luck for them with their first goal when it hit the bar and fell straight to their man.

“Their third goal came when we were pushing for an equaliser, so you have to take that, but everyone is really devastated. I think we pushed on after their second and we had things in and around the box which just wouldn’t fall for us. It’s a hard one to take for us, it really is.”

“They had the chance in the first half where the lad went through but, apart from that, I can’t really remember them creating anything else,” he added. “We obviously bounced back after their first goal and I thought our reaction to the second goal was good.

“We put plenty of pressure on and, like I say, it just wouldn’t fall for us. On another day the free kick from Josh [Gillies] would have gone into the bottom corner but it just wasn’t to be.”

“We know we didn’t deserve to lose so I don’t think there are a lot of nerves about the situation in that dressing room,” he insisted. “There are good lads in there and we have some with raw ability, and others who have been in similar situations at different clubs. 

“I’ve said from day one that there is enough ability in there to keep us out of the relegation zone. I’ll back that dressing room any day of the week because we’re better than where we are in this league.

“But this is a results based business, we all know that. I actually think we played better than we did on Tuesday night and we got a win from that one. However, I’ll take a bad performance and a win over a good performance and a defeat any time. The boys will bounce back, I have no doubt about that.

“Yes, it is hard going at times, because we’re at the bottom end of the Football League. I can’t put my finger on why that has happened but the fans are behind us and that’s what we need at the moment.”

On his two game suspension, he said: “It’s been very frustrating to miss out because I don’t want to be sat on the sidelines, whether that’s through injury or suspension. 

“I just want to be out on the pitch and doing as much as I can. Patrick Brough was fantastic on Tuesday night so it was good of the gaffer to put me straight back into it. Broughy is chopping at my heels and I’ve said before he has all the attributes to go on and play at the top level. With a little bit more self belief he will be fine. I think he has a big career ahead of him.”

Looking ahead to the York game, he said: “The fans seem to get right behind us for games like this, with a really big following. If you look at the Morecambe and Hartlepool games they really made a noise for us. It seems to give us the extra boost we need.

“It’s a game we will be up and ready for come 3pm on Saturday because it’s one you want to be involved in. It probably won’t be pretty, and a bit of a battle, but I’m sure we will come out on top.”