WE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN POINTS - ADKINS
Posted on: Sat 09 Aug 2008
United manager Nigel Adkins was disappointed that his team failed to hold on to the lead in their League One season opener against Leeds United on Saturday.
The Iron lost 2-1 and led through Gary Hooper, before Leeds hit back through Enoch Showunmi and Jermaine Beckford to send all three points to West Yorkshire.
"We're disappointed that with the effort we have put into the game we have not taken any points from it," said Adkins, speaking in his post-match press conference which is now playing on Iron World.
"We have to make sure that when we do get a lead, we hang on to it. It's important that we know how to see a game out.
"I was delighted with the first half because we nullified them, and that gave us an opportunity.
"In the second half they gave themselves opportunities to win the game and took them - in the first half when we dominated the game we didn't."
He added: "Credit to Leeds, they've upped the tempo in the last half hour of the game and Josh Lillis has had to pull off some fantastic saves.
"We're disappointed with the first goal we conceded because we didn't expect to concede like that.
"And the second goal was back off the crossbar and into the path of one of their players to score."
Speaking about why Paul Hayes was taken off injured during the second-half, Adkins said: "We will just have to wait and see with regards Tuesday night (if he is fit for the Carling Cup first round game against Hartlepool).
"He got a kick on his ankle, so he is hobbling around. There is competition for places though, and Paul knows we've got Jonathan Forte and Ben May desperate to get in the team.
"I know he'll do everything he can to get himself fit because he doesn't want to lose the opportunity to get in the team."
The manager said that new signing Martyn Woolford is eligible for the game on Tuesday, but has to make sure he has recovered from a facial injury before he makes his debut.
Adkins said: "He's an exciting player, one for the future and having a little bit more competition for places helps us.
"We were looking at him, but Cheltenham's interest forced our hand a little bit so we made sure we've got him in now.
"We've tracked him for a year now. We know he's got talent and I want to excite the supporters."
Meanwhile, he confirmed that the club have held talks with Huddersfield defender David Mirfin.
A delighted Leeds boss Gary McAllister said: "When you open up a campaign you look for your first clean sheet, your first point and your first win.
"We got our first win. There was no clean sheet, but scored two good goals, we played some good football in the second half, and we created some good chances.
"The first half was reminder that we won't get things all our own way.
"They created chances, they gave us problems and we found it difficult to get a foothold.
"We can't just turn up and play football. You have to grind out the right to play, and by 55/60 minutes we started to get our passing going.
"We played some good football and by the final whistle we deserved the victory."
Hear much more from both managers on Iron World.
The Iron lost 2-1 and led through Gary Hooper, before Leeds hit back through Enoch Showunmi and Jermaine Beckford to send all three points to West Yorkshire.
"We're disappointed that with the effort we have put into the game we have not taken any points from it," said Adkins, speaking in his post-match press conference which is now playing on Iron World.
"We have to make sure that when we do get a lead, we hang on to it. It's important that we know how to see a game out.
"I was delighted with the first half because we nullified them, and that gave us an opportunity.
"In the second half they gave themselves opportunities to win the game and took them - in the first half when we dominated the game we didn't."
He added: "Credit to Leeds, they've upped the tempo in the last half hour of the game and Josh Lillis has had to pull off some fantastic saves.
"We're disappointed with the first goal we conceded because we didn't expect to concede like that.
"And the second goal was back off the crossbar and into the path of one of their players to score."
Speaking about why Paul Hayes was taken off injured during the second-half, Adkins said: "We will just have to wait and see with regards Tuesday night (if he is fit for the Carling Cup first round game against Hartlepool).
"He got a kick on his ankle, so he is hobbling around. There is competition for places though, and Paul knows we've got Jonathan Forte and Ben May desperate to get in the team.
"I know he'll do everything he can to get himself fit because he doesn't want to lose the opportunity to get in the team."
The manager said that new signing Martyn Woolford is eligible for the game on Tuesday, but has to make sure he has recovered from a facial injury before he makes his debut.
Adkins said: "He's an exciting player, one for the future and having a little bit more competition for places helps us.
"We were looking at him, but Cheltenham's interest forced our hand a little bit so we made sure we've got him in now.
"We've tracked him for a year now. We know he's got talent and I want to excite the supporters."
Meanwhile, he confirmed that the club have held talks with Huddersfield defender David Mirfin.
A delighted Leeds boss Gary McAllister said: "When you open up a campaign you look for your first clean sheet, your first point and your first win.
"We got our first win. There was no clean sheet, but scored two good goals, we played some good football in the second half, and we created some good chances.
"The first half was reminder that we won't get things all our own way.
"They created chances, they gave us problems and we found it difficult to get a foothold.
"We can't just turn up and play football. You have to grind out the right to play, and by 55/60 minutes we started to get our passing going.
"We played some good football and by the final whistle we deserved the victory."
Hear much more from both managers on Iron World.
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