Boss: Neil’s save was out of this world
JOHN Eustace believes Blues are indebted to Neil Etheridge’s “world-class” save for their place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Etheridge, who was making only his second appearance of the season, produced a brilliant double stop, the second element a remarkable point-blank save to deny Matt Stevens, to keep his team in the tie at Forest Green.
“He hasn’t stopped talking about it and quite rightly so,” said Eustace. “The way he trains, the way he applies himself has been very good. When he is called upon he hasn’t let anyone down and he has shown he is still a top goalkeeper.
“The first half was disappointing, in really difficult conditions. We didn’t keep to the gameplan; we were playing in the wrong areas. We weren’t aggressive; we weren’t on the front foot. I think the changes at half-time were very positive.
“The boys that came on were very good.
“Alfie Chang came on and was brilliant. I am really pleased for him and Neil – what a double save that was, it was a world-class save.
“I think it shows although we haven’t got the biggest of squads,
we have got a squad that wants to compete and wants to look after each other and work hard.
“That first-half performance was not what we want but the way we responded in that second half was really pleasing.
“It kind of continued from the game at the weekend, which was surprising because we have done a lot of talking about what was going on.
“The pleasing thing for me is when you are going through a difficult period, which we are, to show the character there to come through it is a real positive.
“That performance in the second half shows we are together and hopfeully can kickstart us going forward.
“I have said from day one, there are going to be difficult moments and four defeats in a row, then
1-0 down at half-time at Forest Green, you don’t get much more difficult than that.
“The way the boys responded was really pleasing.
“We gave opportunities to players who didn’t get a chance in that first half and a few positive changes at half-time.
“We’ve got a small squad here but we’ve got a competitive squad and those changes made a difference.”