I’m loving my role but there’s not much sleep!

SOUTHPORT were undone by a stoppage time winner as Spennymoor Town stole the spoils in a 2-1 defeat for the hosts.

The Sandgrounders are still yet to name a new manager following the departure of Alan Lewer so interim boss Steve Schumacher oversaw the defeat.

The player-coach was disappointed by the late goal but he was pleased with the performance of the Southport players.

“It wasn’t nice but that’s part and parcel of football and it happens. Sometimes you’re on the other end of it and you get the stoppage time goal but it didn’t happen that way for us,” said Schumacher.

“On the whole, the result wasn’t the main thing – the most important thing was to produce a performance.

“I’m proud of the lads and the coaching staff. We have worked hard to come up with a game plan and come up with a structure.

“We fully deserved to take something from the game and the lads implemented all of those game plans.

“I understand who was closing down and where we were doing it from. The shape was excellent.

“We were organised and we all knew our roles and one of the most pleasing things was our willingness to pass the ball.

“We have good players. I asked them to do that. I wanted them to be confident and pass the ball. When we were winning games early on in the season that’s what we were doing and teams couldn’t handle us.

“We caused them problems. They are a team who are flying in the league and everyone is talking about them but I thought we were superior.

“We didn’t get the result but that will come. We never gave in. The work-rate was there.

“We just needed more direction. I thought we could go on and win it but you can’t make mistakes like we have done in previous games. We won’t dwell on it.

“At half-time I told the lads we had been the better team. We allowed a couple of crosses to get into our box before they scored though.

“We fully deserved the equaliser and we should have scored before then. I thought after that there was only ever one winner.”

Schumacher reverted to an oldschool 4-4-2 formation and it seemed to work for Southport, who looked organised in defence.

Schumacher hopes his side were able to show the next incoming manager what the squad are capable of.

“I always find players are used to playing in a 4-4-2 formation. Everybody knows their roles in that formation and I wanted to simplify things,” said Schumacher.

“I worked really hard to get those messages off to the players and they understood their roles and said they felt good.

“The result is the one that matters and we haven’t got it. But when a new manager comes in, they will know we have a good squad.”

As well as a strong team performance, there were some good individual displays and Schumacher had praise for Mark Halstead and Ross Sykes.

Sykes, a new transfer, made a mis- take which led to Spenymoor’s winning goal but Schumacher defended the youngster.

“Mark (Halstead) is a goalkeeper and that’s what he is there to do. He is there to make saves and he did that,” said Schumacher. “He has had a good week this week and I thought he played really well. Unfortunately we didn’t get the result for him. Everybody has to do their jobs – not just the goalkeeper.

“I was super impressed with Ross (Sykes). I thought he was brilliant. He’s composed on the ball and he reads the game well.

“I thought he was outstanding. Unfortunately for Ross he slipped and we were punished for it. He will learn from it and only get better because he is a young lad.”

When asked whether he would be happy to continue in his role as head coach, Schumacher admitted he would be “fully committed” to any role the club needed him to do.

“I have enjoyed it but it has been hard work. Not much sleep! I have had set-pieces running through my mind”, said Schumacher.

“The players have enjoyed it I think. It has been a challenge but one I feel as though I am capable of.

“I have asked the lads to play football, pass the ball, work harder, defend better and be more organised.

“Hopefully they got what I have been trying to say to them and the performance showed. Unfortunately the result didn’t come.

“All I know is the interview process will start next week and I’m sure they will pick the right candidate.

“In the meantime, I feel as if we are capable of getting the team into the right shape for the games on Saturday.

“If it’s required and people want me to do that coaching role then I will be happy to do it but I still want to play.

“Whatever role I am asked to do, I am fully committed to it.”

Southport don’t play again until October 21 when they take on Gainsborough Trinity and Schumacher hopes to have “almost a full squad to choose from in a week or so.”