Steven Schumacher was disappointed not to make Wanderers’ game in hand count as they suffered a first league defeat since his first game in charge, writes Pete Oliver.
But the Whites’ head coach insisted the 3-2 loss at Bristol Rovers was not the end of the world and is looking to bounce back against top six-rivals Stockport County on Saturday.
Wanderers had been on a six-match unbeaten run since losing at Reading two days into Schumacher’s reign to climb into the League One play-off places.
And after letting Rovers off the hook – as the Gas made it five wins from seven home games to close in on safety – Schumacher’s was frustrated to leave Bristol empty-handed as his side remained sixth in the table on level games with all the sides in the play-off zone.
“Especially the way we played in the first half,” admitted the Wanderers’ boss. “I thought we were excellent, apart from the penalty which we gave away immediately in the first few minutes.
“We were in control in the first period and we should have been ahead probably at half-time. We expected Bristol to come and respond in the second half and put up probably more of a fight, which they did for five or 10 minutes to put us under a little bit of pressure.
“But after the first 10 minutes when we rode that pressure out, I think the second half was a little bit scrappy, a bit too transitional, not enough control from our point of view and, unfortunately, we haven’t managed to get anything from the game.
“We had a few really good moments when we were under that pressure when we managed to intercept the ball and land on the second ball. John McAtee got himself in a one-on-one and the form he's in, you'd expect him to hit the target but unfortunately the ball just went wide of the post.
“Then the big chance that we had when Szabi got put in by Josh Sheehan and obviously it's got to go in the goal. So, yes, we've been punished for small mistakes and punished for not taking our chances when we have them.”
After Alex Murphy had conceded an early spot-kick, Wanderers seized the initiative with some slick football and an equaliser from Aaron Morley before the break.
McAtee then cancelled out a second goal from Chris Martin with his fifth goal in six games with 20 minutes to go of a pulsating encounter. But rather than go on and make it a hat-trick of wins, Wanderers were the ones to crack late on as they allowed Connor Taylor to head in at the far post with a couple of minutes to go.
“The effort was definitely there and the quality was there for a large part of the first half and we definitely showed some moments in the second half and for all that effort and energy that we've expended, we would have liked to have taken something from the game,” Schumacher added.
“Football can be cruel sometimes and we've come out of it on the wrong side. But it's not the end of the world. It's one of those games that we wanted to make more of it because it was our game in hand. But we've got a huge game on Saturday now against a top-six rival, so we will try and come out on top in that one.
“It shouldn't have been a defeat. The two defeats that we've had since we've been at the club, two away games, have been decided by real small margins late on in the game and we've come out of it with nothing.
“We’re gutted from it, but it's not the end of the world. We learn from it and we get ready to go again. The players are disappointed, but I know what they’re like and they'll respond for Saturday.
“We’re still in the top six tonight and we're going up against another team who are a challenge for those places as well. It's a big game and if we get our performance right and get our effort levels right, I'm sure the crowd will come out and support us and we'll be fine.”
Watch the full post-match interview with the head coach on Wanderers TV