We never got game going: Hill
KEITH Hill accepted his side were second best on the day against Bradford City – but was disappointed to lose out by a four-goal margin.
“We were beaten by the better side but it doesn’t mean we should be beaten 4-0,” he said. “I thought it was very competitive and they were the better side in the first half but the game is still in the asking at 1-0. I thought we defended some situations well in the first half without getting our game going, though to be honest the opposition didn’t let us.
“I was very disappointed with the goal just after half time, the timing and manner of it. For us to concede two set play goals was disappointing and it gave us a mountain to climb which we didn’t climb. They got better and better and better.
“The best player on the pitch was Jack Payne by a country mile – he shouldn’t be playing League One football, he was excellent and so were Bradford. Sometimes you just have to take it on the chin and accept the opposition were better and learn from it. You are looking for your players to learn on the pitch during games like that to become stronger and I was very disappointed with the way we didn’t compete in the way I expect us to when facing their goal in the first half. We allowed them to arrive on the front foot and fair credit to them they were on the front foot and they were assertive. But I thought we should have done more to try and take away control of the game from the opponents.
“Their fourth goal was a wonderful goal, but again, it added salt to the wound. I said to the lads there is no way they deserved to be punished. In the two previous games we had been excellent, but we were beaten by a stronger side. Bradford are getting a good bounce now with the players they’ve got and they are a very good side.”