Defender Dan Morphew reflects on his 300th Needham appearance.
DK: Congratulations on your 300th Needham appearance.
DM: Yeah, thank you. It's a nice milestone, but a disappointing day in general, but it's always a good thing to achieve. I'm pleased to have made it to 300. Hopefully I've got 400 in the legs. So yeah, like I say, it's a good achievement, but yeah, three points would have been nicer.
DK: We were on track for a well-deserved point until late on.
DM: Yeah, I think we dominated the game, if I'm telling the absolute truth. I think most of the game, we're the team on top. We're the team pushing, trying to score. I think the only thing you'd say is we didn't really create enough clear-cut chances. We had some half chances, but some good crosses in the box, but no one really on the end of it, but we were the team in the ascendancy the whole game. There were 11 men behind the ball, all in their half. But I think if you ask their manager, he'll most likely say it's a perfect away performance, kept it tight, didn't give too much away, and then they've nicked a winner. So it's disappointing from our point of view. I think the dressing room is disappointed. I think we all felt we were the better team today and we were on top the whole game, but we just couldn't do enough to get it over the line, which is unfortunate. I think to a certain degree, you earn luck. I think they're the fine margins at this level of football. We've played well, kept concentrated for 90 minutes or for 85 minutes, and that one minute where you let your man go in the box or you lose track of the ball as the corner comes in, you're punished. I think that's the standard of football we're at. I think we need to really hone in on that. Set pieces are difficult at this level. I think they're very physical in the box. When you're attacking set pieces, it's more like a rugby maul than anything else, and I think we're a bit too soft when it comes the other way around. When we're defending corners, we're not as aggressive as what the other teams are when they're defending us. You've got hands all over you, being pushed everywhere when you're trying to attack the ball, and we're too nice when it comes to defending. We're too nice when people are putting in blocks. We're not getting tight enough and physical enough, I think sometimes, which we're a bit guilty of. But I think we'll learn from that, I think, and we'll keep getting better as we go.
DK: We've now got three straight away games, starting with the FA Trophy away at Alfreton.
DM: That'll be a nice trip to Alfreton, I'm sure. Nice close one, nice local draw, but I think, as players, we're used to travelling away on long journeys, so it makes no difference to us. We've been doing okay away from home as well at times. We've had ups and downs. But last year, certainly, we were good on the road. And that's something we're looking to get back into this year. So, yeah, looking forward to it.
Assistant manager Tom Rothery reflects on yesterday's game.
DK: How do you reflect on the result and performance today?
TR: The results disappointing but I think the performance was pretty good. There was a lot of endeavour, intensity and effort was spot on but overall didn’t defend the set piece well and it costs you again so that’s clearly disappointing. First half we carried more threat and didn’t really kick on in the second half which you’re hoping and aiming to do. I think overall we were well in the game and I think they’re a good side so it’s a disappointing result but we need to stay strong and keep looking to make improvements on the training pitch and improvements in the squad in key areas.
DK: Is it a point dropped or all 3?
TR: It’s no points so not sure about any of that but we got we got so we just need to learn and improve simple as really but after a heavy and awful defeat the reaction and performances have had positives so we need to feed off them and improve more.
DK: Without going too much into it, the last 10 minutes must be up there as some of the more bizarre we've had this season?
TR: Watching it (the sending off) live I think it’s harsh. The forwards tried to block which you see in a lot of games I thought Marco just armed him or shouldered him away so I didn’t think there was too much in it but maybe I’ve not seen something or not seen what the officials feel they have. Danny coming on, as I said to him, no pressure just gamble and enjoy it. Danny’s a very capable young goalkeeper so that’s a good thing for him but unfortunately doesn’t help us today but still again shows what Danny is capable of.
DK: Are there any positives from today?
TR: As I’ve said the work ethic and attitude from all the players as in competing doing the ugly side of the game I think we’ve done well and to some maybe that’s not enough or they don’t see that but for me there are clinks of light to show that we are growing as a team but only points now really fully demonstrate that and again hopefully a couple of improvements and Keiran and Josh coming back in will help that. But we are demonstrating more what we can do on the ball I can see more phases of play coming out but overall we just need more whether that’s quality or decision making but we will keep striving to do that.
DK: A brief break from the league next week, as we visit Alfreton in the Trophy?
TR: Yeah no midweek so we all get a break from the travel and can rest and recuperate and add more details to what is some more tough games and travel to come with three long away trips up next.
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