FA Cup tie showed the progress we’ve made - Tisdale
I think we can take confidence from this going forwards but there are plenty of things we need to improve on
PAUL Tisdale believes the feeling of disappointment among his Bristol Rovers players after being knockout of the FA Cup is a sign of the progress they have made in recent weeks.
The Gas battled hard but were edged out 3-2 by Premier League strugglers Sheffield United at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
Rovers did not lack courage or belief, twice coming back from a goal down before Jaden Bogle scored the decisive goal 27 minutes from time to book the Blades’ place in the fourth round.
“I’m disappointed,” Tisdale said at full-time. “The players are as well and that probably sums up how well we played in a strange kind of way. We challenged and competed and put ourselves into a position of opportunity. Unfortunately, we couldn’t quite take it.
“I think we can take confidence from this going forwards but there are plenty of things we need to improve on.
“But generally, if we play with that kind of purpose we’ve got then we have a real chance.
“The fact we’re disappointed in the dressing room afterwards says a lot but actually we can take into the next league game. We have got a good chance to build on this for the rest of the season.”
The game did not lack controversy, with Oli Burke’s 59th-minute finish to make it 2-1 prompting fierce protests from Rovers, who were certain Jack Baldwin was fouled at the other end before the counter-attack began. Referee Keith Stroud put his whistle to his lips but then allowed play to continue.
“I’m 40-50 yards away but it seemed as though Jack was probably fouled,” Tisdale said. “But there we are, there were plenty of decisions today which could’ve gone either way.
“Unfortunately, a crucial one went against us. It looked like the referee put his whistle to his mouth but I don’t know why he didn’t blow. He certainly didn’t play an advantage because we didn’t have the ball, so he must’ve thought it wasn’t a foul or he’s changed his mind. Ether way it’s his decision and we feel a little bit hard done by on that.”
Chris Wilder claimed his 100th win as Sheffield United manager before insisting the FA Cup victory against Rovers was all about his team’s first success of the season,
and not about him. “It’s never ever been about me,” Wilder said after a week when he had to answer speculation about his future.
“It’s always been about putting the football club first and the whole football club needed a win.
“We needed a win because of the
form and the results we’ve produced so far.
“We needed a win for the players and the football club, and we went as strong as we could. It’s not a huge game for people outside our football club.
“But it’s a big win for the run we’ve been in and we had to get a result for the players and the supporters.
“The players have taken a hit in confidence and belief, but we’ve got through a tricky tie that a lot of people in the football world would have expected us to lose.”