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Interviews

Post Wycombe | Paul Hurst

13 April 2024

Interviews

Post Wycombe | Paul Hurst

13 April 2024

Boss Paul Hurst spoke to the media following our game against Wycombe.

In a game with very little goal-mouth action, the two teams cancelled each other out for the best part of 70 minutes.

But after Tom Flanagan received a straight red card, the visitors went on to win thanks to late goals from Luke Leahy and Richard Kone.

Speaking to the assembled media, Paul expressed his anger at the overall performance. He also discussed Tom Flanagan's red card and Tuesday's trip to Bolton.

On the game: 

"There was nothing to cheer about. I can see the fans' frustration and anger, I could hear a little bit during the game, but at the end of the game. 

"I cannot stand here and say that I don't agree with them.  

“It is hard to put into words really - what we have witnessed this afternoon. 

"You start off, and I am almost trying to give the players the benefit of the doubt, is it nerves? Is it edginess?  

“But as the game goes on it is just a kind of nothing performance. 

"I’m not going to stand here and try and defend it, or lie about it.  

“I think the people here know what they’ve witnessed, and it was a performance that was far from good enough.” 

On the red card: 

"It’s a silly challenge, a ridiculous challenge. It is a sending-off.  

“The only bit I can say - and it doesn't defend it in the slightest - but these sorts of situations can occur when free-kicks are not given. 

"He (the referee) is trying to let the game carry on. He had one in the first half that he did not pull up and we had no advantage whatsoever. 

"Dan Udoh gets blocked off and he plays an advantage. I think he is trying to do it for the right reasons. But it is a lot simpler if you blow up.  

"But once we get up to that point, he knows he is in the wrong Flanno. 

“Like I said it is a ridiculous challenge and not something that I can stand here and remotely try to defend." 

On the goals conceded: 

"The first one, which I think was the important one, again we don't seem to be getting the rub of the green with any refereeing decisions. 

“Again, that is not anything linked to our performance by the way. 

“They take the free kick, they get it wrong and then they get an attempt to do it again. 

"People might look at the fact Luke (Leahy) is on the edge of the box. But we are a man light.  

"So it makes it harder to defend and to try and get pressure on the ball.

"He (Leahy) has slotted it away well. I know the fans here will have seen him do that in better circumstances. 

“I’m frustrated with how it transpired.  

“Then the second, we have changed shape. We are chasing to see if we can try and create something and that just left a few gaps. 

“I was disappointed to concede but at the same time, I think it’s more difficult to be critical of that goal from my point of view when we are opening the pitch up.” 

On the contrast to the last home game against Oxford: 

“We were lacklustre. We were lacking in quality. A couple of times when we did put together a move we would overhit the cross. 

“We had a situation where TP (Taylor Perry) went through. He is offside but misses it anyway. 

“Then we the best bit of play second-half – how simple? Morgan Feeney gets the ball, plays it up the line. Plays it forward. 

“I can hear fans moaning about that. I am with them. The message at half-time was that we continue to pass the ball backwards far too often. 

“We didn’t put their defence under any pressure.  

“But that situation, a ball down the line. Tom Bloxham running towards their goal. Then he kind of miss-kicks it and Dan ends up with a shot. 

“But again, there was no quality to our play. 

“It was a very, very, hard watch and ultimately I am the manager and I have to do something about that. 

“I’m in a different position to what fans are. But at the same time, I kind of feel like many of those do when it comes to what we have just watched.” 

On still being six points clear from the bottom four: 

“Part of me is sick of talking about other teams.  

“Ultimately, at the minute, what it looks like is we are relying on other results. 

“That’s not a nice feeling. It’s not a position we want to be in. 

“At the end of the day, it’s where we finish in two week's time. 

“Then we will all know where we are and our fate on that day. 

“Yes, I guess that is a small positive but at the minute I’m struggling to get too upbeat. 

“At least it gets easier with a trip to Bolton.” 

On facing Bolton on Tuesday: 

“Again Flanno’s decision today – that is him now done. It’s not only today that it impacts.  

“The way that Bolton play, Marko could end up with a bad back on Tuesday night if that’s the kind of performance we are going to produce. 

“We might still get beat if we play at our absolute top level. 

“It was looking a daunting a game, it’s looking a lot more daunting now. 

“I go back to when times are tough and what you look for out there, you look for character, you look for leaders, you look for spirit, you look for pride. 

“We have got to find a hell of a lot more. Not only on Tuesday night but in the two after that as well.” Generic Banner Home 2023.24.jpg


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