Following our defeat at home to Notts County, we spoke to Mike Williamson.
Speaking to CUTV, he said: “I thought it was a contrast in halves again. It was flipped this time.
“I thought we started well. I thought we started the half well. We moved the ball well and we created the better chances until we switched off and from a long goalkick, we were punished which was disappointing.
“I thought that really had a big effect on us but when you come up against Notts County who are a couple of years, two, three years into their process now with the calibre of player they have, it's going to be very difficult.
“I thought the boys were running, they were fighting, they were giving everything but the detail wasn't quite there.
“Obviously, we're trying to get across what we can but the boys are so willing to win the ball back.
"Obviously, the crowd wants the ball back and one slight lapse, they play straight through.
“What I can say is that there's a lot of character and a lot of personality in there and they got themselves right.
“They came out with a real determination to want to win the second-half and they were relentless and got to a point where we were incredibly proud of their reaction and that gives us a massive platform to build off.
“The first goal really changed the atmosphere in the whole stadium. It’s frustrating to get caught up so easily.
“It's just switching off and lack of concentration, which when you're down the bottom and you're fighting, things go against you and you do need that bit of luck, but the only way to create that is to manufacture it every day by grinding and again, I can only keep reiterating how proud I am of their reaction and their real warrior spirit that came out and against one of the stronger teams, especially ball-dominant teams with the players they have, we didn't give them a sniff.
“We didn't give them a yard and we covered every blade of grass and we peppered their goal.
“We missed a few opportunities but I think the stats will fully back that up.
“It's just obviously the stat that really matters is the scoreline but we have to focus on the positives and go into Saturday and take that intensity and that personality and build off it.
“It's difficult because I feel as though the last two performances were probably better than the first performance and we got three points in the first performance and nothing in the last two.
“But yeah, we're in a bad period, fully accept that, the boys know, but what we saw this evening was real spirit and determination and I think it's going to give them a lot of hope.
“I hope it gives the crowd that belief that we're capable of turning this round and when we get that right with that intensity and those guys in there, I think we're going to climb the table.”
United created plenty of chances in the second 45, but were still unable to find the back of Alex Bass’ goal.
“I don't think Notts County are going to have that happen to them again for 45 minutes this season.
“I thought we didn't give them a second to breathe and were relentless and everything. We smothered them. We stopped things at source and they had to go long to try to go over the press.
“We're physically dominant. We're picking up second balls. We're getting the ball wide.
“The quality going into the box was good. We just didn't get the finish in the end but that’s largely down to a lot of good defending and some very good saves by the goalkeeper.
“The lads are obviously all desperate to get things right.
“For me, the first-half, that's on us. It's on the coaches. We need to work together and we need to put the detail in.
“It's going to be a slow process but we got caught and then through that sheer willingness to press and get the ball back, we got caught again and that is the detail.
“That's the moments where we have to be patient. We have to be aggressive in our press but we have to be patient in our shape.
“The boys showed a desire and willingness and we just got caught but then the reaction, it was just a pure emotional reaction.
“It wasn't a tactical change. It was a case of, we got there and we won that second-half and we did on metrics, unfortunately not on goals.”
Jack Robinson was named on the bench this evening. Speaking on him and injuries elsewhere, Williamson said: “Robbo, we want to be careful with him.
“He's been out for a long time and we've got to make sure that he gets the load inside of him but it's good to have him around. We want to get him back on the pitch as soon as possible.
"I think Dylan's (McGeouch) going to be a few weeks, so that’s disappointing and frustrating.
“I'm hoping we escape this evening with nothing.
“We've just got to make sure we dust ourselves down and recover.”
Finally, speaking on the supporters, he added: “I can completely understand their frustration and it's echoed on the inside and in the boys.
“I think you get a camera inside and you get a fly on the wall view of what the boys are going through. They're hurting and they can feel it and they're desperate to change it but we change it by working hard.
“We're sticking together and we've seen more than enough quality, guts, determination and personality to be able to do that.”
