Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Interviews

Post Leyton Orient | Matt Taylor

23 September 2023

Matt Taylor spoke to the media following our 1-0 defeat at Leyton Orient.

Town flew out of the blocks at Brisbane Road and created numerous chances to open the scoring.

Chey Dunkley and Max Mata were both denied by goalkeeper Sol Brynn in the first few minutes. The shot-stopper then denied Mata again after he had been slipped in one-on-one. 

Those misses led to Orient taking the lead against the run of play through Ruel Sortiou.

Town then pushed and pushed for an equaliser with Dan Udoh, Taylor Perry, Tom Flanagan and Ryan Bowman all going close to no avail.

Speaking to the assembled media, Matt discussed and the fact we now haven't scored in the month of September.

On the game:

"Frustration is being polite about it.

"What I think we did today is we dominated a game of football. We've created some really good opportunities, some really good chances that we have to take.

"If you look at the first 20 minutes and isolate that, we should score three goals. 

"We don't and you always run the risk of when you don't convert those chances - and I think they're big chances today.

"The first corner that goes in, Chey gets a really good header on it, it drops down to us again, the goalkeeper makes another save, then momentum is starting to build for us.

"We get a one-on-one with Max - he doesn't take it.

"As I say, when you don't take those chances and you come away from home and the opposition get a lucky bounce that goes through and they score, it's the one shot they've had on target throughout the game.

"That's the way it's going at the moment.

"What I will say is I thought the performance was really good today. There are a huge amount of positives.

"I've stood here talking to you previously where we've had conversations and been really disappointed in the performance.

"I can't comment on that today - I thought the performance was excellent today to a man.

"Every single member of the squad gave everything and I can't have anything negative to say about their application or their commitment.

"The thing that we need to be better at is scoring a goal when we create nine chances away from home. And I would argue three or four of those were really big chances for us.

"I'd have been disappointed if I was stood here and we'd drawn the game. I'm devastated we've lost.

"Other than when the game opens up and we put Chey up top, to try and go a bit more direct to get one to bounce for us.

"We still have two or three really good opportunities and I'm acutely aware that we haven't scored again. That's the issue.

"And I understand pressure and I understand what it does to football players, but when we don't get that goal, we have to make sure we do all we can to protect our goal.

"I thought, out of possession, bar that one moment, we were really good again today.

"So there are positives, there are huge positives from today but obviously let's not get away from the negative that we have lost a game of football."

On struggling to score throughout September having had a positive August: 

“That there is the difference. I feel we are so close to not just winning a game of football but convincingly blowing teams away. 

“If you look at how we played out of possession today - I felt we were excellent. 

“We had a look at changing a few things and I felt the players implemented that game plan really well. 

“But I can’t keep standing here saying ‘I’m disappointed because we haven’t taken our chances.’ 

Let’s be brutally honest about the situation, the players that get those chances and those moments need to start putting the ball in the back of the net. 

“That isn’t just the front players, it’s not just the midfielders it’s everyone as a team. 

“We have created a good amount of chances away from home. But I’m standing here again and we haven’t scored.  

“That needs to change. I’m acutely aware of that.

"We will continue to work hard. If we continue to trust the process and continue to play like that – we will win games of football no problem.” 

On Tom Flanagan coming back into the side: 

“He is experienced. I think he behaved correctly when he wasn’t selected for the team. 

“Tom gives you a wealth of League One knowledge and I felt today we needed that physical threat and physical presence. 

I felt he played quite well. But until I watch it back I won’t know the detail because you get so caught up in the moment. 

“But what we have got is a group of players who are supremely competitive with each other and who are very down in the dressing room and quite rightly so. 

“There is no way after a performance like that we should be standing here now talking about a defeat.” 

On if the players need lifting after today: 

"I don’t know if they need lifting, I think you need to own the situation you’re in and accept the situation.

"We need to believe in the process and believe in the work we're doing at the training ground.

"The next game we play, if we play like that, we’ve got a great chance of winning. Make no mistake about that.

"I felt extremely confident in the players out of possession, I didn’t feel as if we were at huge amounts of risk.

"However, that one ricochet that doesn’t go to us is pretty much where it is at the moment.  

"But the players will continue believing in what we’re doing, they’re fully committed, it’s just a case of when one does drop for us, we will start winning games of football.  

On the 618 fans that travelled: 

"I can only thank them, again I said it last week I can understand their frustration, they’ve travelled down here, they’ve spent their own money to watch their team. 

"What they can’t have any issue with is the effort, the desire and the application that the players gave – that’s the minimum requirement.  

"Carry on doing that, and I don’t have any concerns. But let’s address the problems that are right here right now and that is we’re not scoring enough goals."

imagewjlj7.png


Advertisement block

iFollow Next Match Tickets Account