Things just didn’t go for us: Sol

MACCLESFIELD Town manager Sol Campbell admits his side have to make big improvements following their 3-2 defeat at Cheltenham Town on Saturday.

The Silkmen had led 2-0 at half-time after goals from Michael Rose and Scott Wilson, but they also had Nathan Cameron sent off on 20 minutes.

Cheltenham took full advantage of the extra man, as second half efforts from Luke Varney, Jacob Maddox and Charlie Raglan saw the home side come from behind to earn the win and condemn Macclesfield to defeat.

Campbell was frustrated with the loss, but felt that his side were not at their best as the game went on and could have no complaints about the outcome at The LCI Rail Stadium.

“We started really well and after the sending off we had to do some more running as organisation at the back went,” he said.

“They capitalised really well on the spare man, we had a few injuries as well and that hampered us in the way we try to play football so it was very difficult.

“Fair play to Cheltenham they used the ball really well and we just didn’t really have that extra bit of quality to keep the ball when we had it.

“It wasn’t ideal losing players early on but when it does happen you have to get on with it. It’s one less substitute and both the injuries and the sending off affected us as well as the flow of the game.

“The penalty was a clear penalty, but we lost the game. We weren’t really at the races and you must dig in a little more when you’re a man down and we didn’t play any football.

“You’ve got to do a bit more running, cover some spaces a bit more, get your head to it and put your body on the line and they just found those little knock backs and we couldn’t get close to that.

“The lads put everything in to it, even at the end we had a chance, but we just put it wide and it wasn’t a good day for us - it just didn’t go our way.”

The defeat ended Macclesfield’s run of two straight wins, and leaves them second bottom in the League Two table, two points adrift from safety.

Campbell’s men will now look to get back to winning ways when they make the trip to Mansfield Town on Saturday.