Sheridan furious at ‘shocking’ Magpies
JOHN Sheridan let rip at his Notts County side for their ‘shocking’ second-half performance after they were held by Stevenage at Meadow Lane.
Stevenage took the lead through Ben Kennedy after a mistake by Haydn Hollis was seized upon by Jobi McAnuff.
Notts did haul themselves level through Jon Stead’s quality strike before the forward and Thierry Audel hit the woodwork as they chased a second goal.
But in the second half, Notts rarely threatened and Sheridan pulled no punches in his assessment.
“We started the game really sloppily and I wasn’t happy at all,” he said.
“They got the goal and I suppose if there was one plus out of the game it was we responded really well.
“We’ve had good chances to go in the lead after that, but the biggest disappointment was the performance in the second half.
“It was a shambles. I’m not having it. Stevenage dominated the second half for me.
“I am not having a team of mine play like that.
“We got plaudits two or three weeks ago for playing 3-5-2, when we looked a really good attacking side.
“But I can’t go out there and do it for them. The decisions and the know-how was non existent in the second half.
“It was a shocking performance and I am not happy about it to tell you the truth.
“It was our first home game of the season and I was very disappointed.”
Stevenage boss Darren Sarll was far the happier of the two bosses, although he felt Notts should have been denied their equaliser claiming a foul in the build-up.
“We made an excellent start to the game and took the lead through some good play,” he said.
“But there was a big swing in the game when my centre forward was fouled and then we defended the situation poorly which allowed Stead to score.
“My issue was the foul. “The referee got too many of those decisions wrong. In the technical area I was thinking he was very good for Notts County, not for Stevenage.
“I don’t like people getting sent off and I don’t encourage it. I might wave my arms, but I never say I want cards.
“But there were a couple of tackles in the game, one in the second half in particular which was a sending off.
“The referees want respect so we have to smile and wave while they have a massive bearing on us.”