We spoke to Mike Williamson after our defeat to Tranmere.
Mike began: “I thought we weren’t good enough and I'm not standing here to make excuses. I thought, especially after they scored, it sapped our energy and I didn't think we could recover after that.
“It’s just down to the place we're at.
“I think the emotional pressure on some of the lads is too much and I think that we made the simple things look difficult. Disappointing going from two performances that we can come off the pitch being proud of to that one and in such a big game.
“But, you know, 18 shots, 11 shots in the box, we don't really lay a hand on the keeper.
"It's just disappointing, but that's where we're at.”
We asked Mike what can be done to help the players with that pressure. He responded by saying: “Just try and give them as much detail as we can and support them the best we can, but it's hard when you go out there. Obviously, we can train and we can have as much understanding and detail as we possibly can, but when you go out there, it's a different animal.
“I feel like the minute we're struggling with that weight.
“I completely understand what the fans are saying and their message because that was just unacceptable. It's hard to stomach going from a good performance, despite the result, against a very, very good team and coming here and playing as we did. But I think that's just the position we're in and where we're at.”
On what can be done, Mike said: “I mean, we can keep working. We can keep trying to support the boys.
"We need help. We need players to come in. That's the bottom line because at the minute, even when we've been putting good performances together, we've not been getting the points.
"And then when we haven't performed, we're still getting beat. So I think that's clear.”
On the very poor goal we conceded, Mike said: "I think that's just where we're at. It’s easy for them to get one long ball, get in behind us and then contact in the box.
“It just looks scruffy and scrappy and, like you say, slow motion.”
The Blues had a great chance to draw level through Dan Adu-Adjei, which was indicative of a team lacking confidence. Mike agreed, saying: “And that's the difference. There's a big, big emotion in football at the minute.
“We've got the weight of the world on our shoulders, every single player. And we made the easy things look difficult. And then obviously, when we get good opportunities, we didn't take them.”
On any other imminent deals, Mike said: “I can't really comment now, but I really hope so.”
Speaking about the absence of Jordan Jones, he explained: “He's injured his shoulder, in his sternum area.
“I think it was a small fracture. It sounds worse than it is. I think he's in a lot of pain at the minute, but as soon as the pain kind of goes away, he should be back. We're talking a few weeks, hopefully.”
Mike also confirmed that Tyler Burey’s absence was a selection choice, not an injury.
Lastly, Mike addressed the fans: “I completely understand and we've just got to stick together the best we possibly can because, as I say, the lads today, we created chances, but we didn't take them. We've gone from a real positive performance to this and I think that's the weight of it. But we're just going to keep working.
“And again, I've got no qualms with their message and I can completely get it.”
