Watson defiant after Heed’s shock defeat
GATESHEAD manager Steve Watson went on the defensive after his side slipped to a surprise home defeat against Braintree Town.
The Essex outfit had picked up just three points from the first 30 on offer and had yet to win or keep a clean sheet.
They achieved both after a turgid 90 minutes on Tyneside as the Heed recorded a second consecutive home defeat.
Unlucky to lose late on in a thriller against leaders Harrogate last time out at the International Stadium, this was a much more prosaic performance.
Watson’s men huffed and puffed in the second half but managed only two efforts on target in the whole game.
Braintree never looked like scoring in open play but found the net from a long-distance free-kick which saw defender Joe Ellul find the net.
With Aynsley Pears rooted to his line, Steven Rigg allowed Ellul to head home from six yards 10 minutes into the second half.
An off-colour Gateshead threatened an equaliser which never came, the display unconvincing after a bright opening to their season. It was a reality check for the Heed’s young guns, though the booing from a section of fans at the end was harsh given their efforts so far.
The level-headed Watson was keen to look at the bigger picture.
He said: “Sometimes we have to understand where we are.
“We are 10th - two points from the play-offs.
“What we have had to deal with, what we have spent and the speed in which we put a squad together has to be taken into account.
“Also the age of the squad. I don’t forget it but I hope everyone understands.
“We are almost a quarter of the way through the season.
“Where do people really think we should be at this stage?
“We have done well enough to be a lot higher but compared to where we were expected to be we are still in a decent position.”
Greg Olley, Jon Mellish and JJ O’Donnell were the pick of a belowpar Heed bunch, Olley and Rigg going close against a poor Braintree outfit.
O’Donnell and substitute Scott Barrow, on his first appearance of the season, were also just off target, but Iron goalkeeper Ben Killip had little to deal with.
Gateshead now have to go again on Saturday when they travel to Martin Allen’s Chesterfield.