First team manager Keith Hill spoke to Iron Player following the team's 2-0 home defeat against FC Halifax Town.
He begun by speaking about the performance, saying: “I’m obviously disappointed and frustrated. I’m feeling the same emotions as the fans and the players, let’s not forget the players, because the players have gone through it today, far more than I have. They’re trying to turn a corner and improve their performances individually.
“We’re making mistakes, and they’re seeable in the situation that we find ourselves in. Every minor mistake is getting punished to the point where we’re conceding from a deflected free-kick. The players haven’t given up though, and under testing circumstances. They’re trying to do everything, and that’s manifested in the second goal, because the players are trying to do everything to salvage something from the game. That’s my understanding of it, as an ex-player whose been in the situation before.”
He added: “The players effort is going through the roof, but it’s being magnified as mistakes, and it’s such a shame for the players because they want to do well for the supporters, and they understand the supporters' frustration. I will 100% ask them to stick with the players because they need it and they need the supporters to turn their frustrations around. This is really a call for them to stick with us and stick with the players.
“There is certainly a situation where you can’t see the wood for the trees. We want to play the ball forward, we want to play through the lines, we want to attack the back four, but there’s that element of doubt in the players. We’ve got to worship them now and we’ve got to give them more support and encouragement.
“We have to give them everything they need to make them feel good about themselves, because they do analyse, and critique themselves. They don’t just go home and forget about their responsibilities, it stays with you for days as a player, manager or as a supporter, with the situation we find ourselves in. We have to give them every bit of support that they need for our next game.”
There were two debutants today, in Isaac Fletcher and Rob Apker, and Keith spoke about their performances, adding: “We’ve got to make sure that those players lift the rest of these players. We don’t want them to become part of the problems that the current players are in right now. They’re good players and I thought they played well today.
“I was encouraged by the response to being 1-0 down by the players. I’m optimistic for the future, and I’m optimistic with the group of players for the football club's future. It’s difficult looking at the league, and it’s difficult being defeated again in the manner that we have. Those difficulties can turn into successes very quickly in football.”
The boss went on to sum up todays result, saying: “All we have to deal with is the truth that we’ve been beaten again, and the pressure is on and it’s more intense, and somewhere it has to be relieved. In order to do that, you have to play with freedom and with collective responsibility, but you have to free your mind so that you can play to your capabilities. That’s down to confidence, and belief, and I have belief in the players. I won’t give up on them."
Finally, he spoke about injuries within the squad, concluding: “Mason O’ Malley suffered a hamstring injury in yesterday’s training, and other than that I don’t know with respect to the players who’ve completed today's game. We’re not too sure how serious Mason's injury is, but we’re hoping it’s just a bit of fatigue.”