Watson: We should have done double
MISTAKES HAVE COST HEED DEARLY IN POOL CLASHES, SAYS BOSS
GATESHEAD manager Steve Watson believes his side should have done the double over local rivals Hartlepool over the festive period.
In a re-run of the Boxing Day stalemate on Tyneside the two sides couldn’t be separated, with both games ending 2-2.
Gateshead could, and probably should, have edged both games, though they had to come from behind twice at The Vic yesterday. That, however, does not tell the full story. Either side of Pools regaining the lead in the second half the Heed rattled the home bar. Paddy McLaughlin and Luke Hannant were desperately unlucky not to score, with Scott Loach beaten on both occasions. Both sides, languishing in the bottom half of the table, slugged it out in a pulsating second half as they searched for a winner. In the event Hartlepool had to settle for a seventh game without a win. Gateshead have now drawn their last four league games – three from winning positions. Watson said: “We should have won on Boxing Day and we peppered the goal today, their keeper making some tremendous saves.
“We showed good spirit to come back twice in a derby away from home, but ultimately we’ve handed them two goals again.
“People are given jobs and they don’t do them. Individual errors in the last four league games have cost us dearly.
“We deserved three points in both games and we could have been eight points better off from the last four games.
“It was a derby in front of a good crowd and everyone at the game will admit that we were the better side.
“You have to take the positives and move on, but if you hand sides goals you’re not going to win football matches.”
A 352-strong travelling Heed Army in the Rink End were tremendous in their backing in Gateshead’s first competitive game at The Vic for 57 years.
“The fans never stopped and kept believing. It does help, and I’m slightly disappointed that we didn’t send them home with a win,” said Watson.
“They will certainly appreciate the efforts the lads puts in today to come back from behind twice.” In front of a 3,241 Victoria Park crowd, Hartlepool defender Keith Watson marked his first start since September with two goals, the first after just seven minutes. Watson bundled home Nicky Deverdics’ free-kick, before great work from Jordan Preston set up Peniket’s 41st-minute equaliser. A Deverdics corner saw Watson volley Pools in front, with sub Wes York getting on the end of Robbie Tinkler’s cross to level 11 minutes from time.
You have to take the positives and move on, but if you hand sides goals you’re not going to win matches Steve Watson