Pato understands fans’ frustration with Carlisle loss
MARTIN Paterson said he fully understood the negative reaction from Burton Albion supporters after Tuesday night’s 1-0 home defeat to Carlisle United.
The manager took his players to applaud the fans after a worryingly poor performance and said he would always do so – but many vented their feelings after a third successive home defeat.
Two of those came in four days to dull the benefit of two successive away wins and Paterson said: “Two games at home and no points is bitterly disappointing.
“I have to front that up as a manager, as that is not acceptable.
“I totally understand the reaction of the supporters, as I watch the game as well.
“It was the performance that I was disappointed in and we have no excuses.”
Paterson conceded that whatever he is trying to get through to his players on the training ground is not being taken on board fully yet by his players – who he felt were in two minds about how to attack Carlisle.
“This group has high effort but if I’m being honest we need to get to the training ground and do a lot of work as there are two minds going on in terms of moments to play over-presses and moments to calm it down and pass the ball,” he said.
“That’s on me, as I have to coach them.
“It’s easy to be negative and start beating ourselves up but I’m clear what needs to be improved and I know what we need to do to correct it.
“We tried to change things and there were small positives with a couple of substitutions that livened it up and were a bit braver with the ball.
“But that performance is not acceptable for Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium.”
The home form is all the more puzzling given that Albion have been good on the road since Paterson arrived.
“Clearly the home performances haven’t matched up with the away ones and we have to look at it,” he said.
“I think it’s clear it’s something we have to remedy very quickly.
“We conceded from a set play and that allowed them the luxury to play a certain way.
“We have had that luxury away from home.
“At home the onus, when you are behind, is to go and break them down and that’s our next facet of improvement.
“I’m aware of it and I fully understand the frustration of everybody.”