On the game and whether he’s happy with a point

I suppose you can look at it that way, but I’m going to look at it positively. The way we started the game, that’s three games on the bounce now where we have started really positively. What is a little concern is we keep having spells of 10-15 minutes where we look a bit nervy with the ball, a little bit on edge. It takes not just one of them but all of us to look around and calm everyone down and get our game going again. 

I thought we started the game really well, really really well. But as I have said, probably on too many occasions this season I felt that when we’re having those moments when we’re on top, we need to make 1-0 into 2-0 to give us that extra cushion, which we didn’t do. We didn’t deal with a throw-in and a set-piece very well and when we cleared our lines we cleared it back to the thrower which is not ideal. Then we’ve conceded by not winning the header when the ball is put back into the box. 

Again although they had a spell of 15-20 minutes at the start of the second half where between the boxes they were on top. Other than the one that has come off the post, I don’t remember them causing us too many problems. The mood in the ground would suggest that they were on top.

Then we have changed our shape and people will say, I have just had the same conversation with the boys, that changing our shape contributes to us getting ourselves back into the game. I don’t always buy into that personally, because just because we’re in a different shape, we can all of a sudden pass the ball a bit better, that isn’t for me. But there’s no getting away that we got ourselves back in the game and we could have quite easily gone on and won it ourselves. 

But I suppose on the balance of play a point is not too bad away from home, but we want wins! 

On the impact his substitutions had 

That’s where it’s good for us, I had some good players sitting in the stands and I had some good players on the bench, I have good choices. Everyone has got to play their part, I have had three players come on and impact the game today, they nearly impacted it to where we have got three points and a win. 

They certainly came on and contributed to the change of flow in the game. In particular Ephron, I think he is looking exciting, lively and fresh again, so it’s good to have him back in the ranks and available. He is edging closer to a start, at the minute he is probably better from the bench with 25-30 minutes to go. If he keeps contributing as he has done in the last two games, he will be back in the team quicker than anticipated. 

On a big week ahead

We have travelled up to Stockport which is not around the corner and we have started the game well and taken a point home, we wanted three. We have two journeys on the road, we will go Woking on Tuesday then we will travel to Yeovil on Saturday, they are tough games. 

We have shown good resilience today, in moments where we are on the back foot we have shown good resilience to stay in the game. We have nearly gone on and won it, in terms of an away performance you can be relatively satisfied with that. But because we all demand so much more from each other, we are all disappointed in there that we haven’t capitalised on being 1-0 up and taken three points home. 

It’s the start of a tough week for us, we have to back up what we have done well today and hopefully, go and get the three points on Tuesday. The league table looks how it does, a couple of results have gone our way so we are still in an encouraging position, but we need to turn draws into wins no doubt. 

On the travelling 204 Bees fans support 

I’m always grateful, that is terrific support, I am really pleased that they have come out in their numbers. They were clapping us at the end so let’s hope they go home pleased and encouraged by what we are trying to do. As always they get my thanks because to bring 200 this far up the road is really pleasing, so thank you.