Hasselbaink: We had to dig in for a hard-fought point
BURTON Albion manager Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink admitted that he was a lot happier with a point than his Bolton Wanderers counterpart Ian Evatt after Monday night’s goalless draw.
The Brewers had to hang on in defence for much of the game but the manager’s lament after the 3-0 defeat to Cambridge United – “if you can’t win, at least don’t lose” – came good this time.
“Bolton are a good side who have been together for two years,” said Hasselbaink.
“We kept on being stubborn and solid with lots of good blocks. Overall, coming here and taking a point, is a very good one.
“I think I am more delighted with the point than them.
“We had to dig in for a long time during the game but the point was hard fought for.”
He had hoped to see more from his side going forward, which they have often shown against patient passing sides like Bolton.
“At times it’s about growing and showing that we dare to do more,” he said.
“You take the point away from home and now we go back to the Pirelli on Saturday and look for a better performance to go one better.
“Daniel Jebbison will join up with the squad this week after being on international duty and we’re looking forward to getting him involved with our set-up.”
With regard to the game’s most controversial moment, when Bolton had a goal disallowed because
striker Eoin Doyle was in an offside position close to goalkeeper Ben Garratt when Kieran Lee’s shot beat him, Hasselbaink was sure the referee and his assistant got the decision right.
“The referee made the right decision,” he said. “I saw it at half-time. The boy (Doyle) is in the line of the kick. He is just offside.
“If he is not there, my goalkeeper can save the ball. If it goes in the other corner and there is no-one there, he is not offside.”