Dean post-Southend (H)

Jimmy Dean has reflected on Saturday's 3-1 home defeat to Southend United in the Vanarama National League.

He began by offering his thoughts on todays result, saying: “I thought there was nothing in it in the first half and it was a nothing penalty. There were a few speculative efforts in each half, and they walked two in the goal. We came out in the second half and for 30 minutes we completely stopped. Josh Robertson came on at the end and gave us a bit of emphasis and willingness.”

He added: “There were two positives. One is Josh Robertson. I’ve just said to the lads that if he can go on there at 18-years-old and make a difference then that shows you where we’re at. The other positive is Danny (Elliott) getting off the mark. He took his goal really well.”

The boss then spoke further about the first half penalty, adding: “I thought it was even in the first half. We’ve watched the penalty back and it doesn’t look like one to us. The referee said to me that it had all the clues of a penalty, but for me, how can you give a penalty on clues? We’re down and we’re done, but fair play to Southend who’ve come here and won because they’ve deserved it based on how we played in the second half. There’s a promotion race going on and this game has a meaning so you can’t be giving penalties on clues - it either is or it isn’t."

On moving forward to next season, Jimmy said: “I promise it will get better and it will. The club can’t go any lower and we have to build it back now. There’s good people out there and I’m gutted for them. I’m embarrassed for me and the players with how it’s gone since Torquay. When I said the performance was a disgrace I hoped to get a reaction but it’s gone the wrong way. One more to go and then hopefully I get a chance to build something that’s special. I’m looking forward to it.”

Finally, the gaffer offered a message to the fans, saying: “I’m sorry for the part I’ve played in this. I felt like it was getting somewhere after nine games, and if we’d nicked it against York it might have been different. Since then it’s been unacceptable. I’m the manager and I’m responsible for that. It’s a promise that it will be better next season and we will be winning games.”

He finished: “Thanks to the fans as well for the positivity and for not being too harsh on us when they could have been. There's an understanding that it has been difficult but trust me that it will be better. Every conversation I’ve had about next year has been positive. I won’t let performances like this stand long term, and what me and the club do next will represent that.”