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Hurst: Players Were Like Warriors
Saturday, 18th Aug 2018 18:22

Boss Paul Hurst felt his 10-man Blues “were like warriors” as they secured a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, the Town manager believing referee Tim Robinson, who he thought had a bad game, was wrong to red card Tayo Edun six minutes before half-time.

Hurst had been critical of his players following the on-penalties Carabao Cup defeat at Exeter on Tuesday and asked whether there was a huge difference in the two displays responded: “Totally different circumstances. I think so much has been made of Tuesday but I don’t really know what the fuss is about in terms of my interview.

“We talked about a reaction and, in circumstances we wouldn’t have all chosen, they absolutely stood up to be counted and were like warriors realistically out there.

“Still gave Aston Villa very much a game, even being down to 10 men, we still carried a threat of sorts, limited them to very little, especially when you look at the quality they’ve got in their side.

“I think everyone in the ground today was proud to be associated with that team and we saw that with the ovation that the fans gave the players at the end of the game.

“While I fully appreciate it’s not three points, it almost feels like as good as a win because we’re not playing against a team that’s from a lower league or anything like that, we’re playing against a team that’s expected to be right in the mix for promotion and has got players who have played higher, internationals, top quality players for this league.

“I’m delighted for the players that they did see it out because if we’d have conceded late it would have been extremely cruel.”

Regarding Edun’s dismissal for a second bookable offence, he added: “I don’t think it’s a red card, I admittedly haven’t seen it close up.

“But at the time and from wide angle footage, I haven’t looked at the first one, but the second one, if it’s a foul, and I’m not sure if it is or not in truth, but even if it is, you don’t see referees realistically go to the [second yellow card].

“And he gave himself loads of time to think about it, I thought he was just letting the situation settle down and was going to say, ‘Look, just be careful,’ if it was a foul. So when he produced the red card I was amazed in all honesty.”

When it was pointed out that referee Robinson had let some other similar challenges go, he continued: “But then he booked Alan Hutton in the second half, that wasn’t a booking. It’s ridiculous. We’re trying to make the sport a non-contact sport and I genuinely don’t think anyone wants to see that.

“I certainly don’t, I don’t think the fans do and I don’t think the players do. I thought he had a bad game. I’ll have to put that in the report.


“And we got a couple of soft ones towards the end possibly. People may say it evens itself out, it didn’t even itself out and I think both sets of staff etc will probably have a similar view.”

Having asked questions of his players on Tuesday, he says he received a lot of positive answers this afternoon.

“Yes, I think I saw a group that’s fully committed, that worked extremely hard and I expect nothing less from that,” he said.

“As I said, I think a lot of fuss has been made about nothing in my opinion. I want to work with men and I think I saw a group of men take the field today and perform out there in very difficult circumstances.

“I’m very proud of them for their efforts today and again I think fans will always accept some deficiencies if they feel they’ve got a team and players who are giving everything for the shirt and to a man they certainly did today.”

Regarding Edun, who was playing only his 11 senior game, he added: “He’s down and he’s apologising but in truth we can all in hindsight try to be really careful and say, ‘Don’t go for that ball, you’ve been booked’, but I genuinely don’t think it’s anywhere close to being a booking.

“So it would almost be to the point where if I felt that situation gets a second yellow there’s no point in him being out there and I would have taken him off.

“When he committed that foul and just because of the crowd and the energy straight away in my head I’m thinking he has to be careful, we need to get a message out there, but I didn’t get a chance to do that because, in my opinion, it was totally the wrong decision.

“Usually if you commit a foul, [the first] one might be a booking straight away, you’re second one hardly ever unless it’s that bad and from what I’ve seen at least I can’t see that it’s even close to being a bad foul, if a foul at all.”

Ellis Harrison left the field apparently feeling an injury and Jon Nolan and Cole Skuse also picked up knocks.

“He’s got ice on his knee,” Hurst said of Harrison. “Jon Nolan got a kick on his calf in the first minute, so I was concerned about him during the first half and at half-time he managed to get it going again, but I think then it reached the point where he couldn’t have done much more.

“Skusey’s feeling his quad but he had to stay out there. There are a lot of walking wounded in there and I’m sure a lot of tired legs but they got something from the game they certainly deserved.”

Hurst says there is nothing new on any incoming loan additions and asked about reports that he has made a renewed move for Blackpool’s Curtis Tilt, who started for the Seasiders today, he said: “Nothing’s changed in terms of him being a player that I like, but as far as I’m aware nothing’s changed on that situation.”

Villa boss Steve Bruce admitted his team missed a very good opportunity to continue their 100 per cent start to the season.

“We’re frustrated because it was a great opportunity but really when I analyse it we were better against 11 men than we were 10," he said.

“We didn’t move the ball quickly enough, we didn’t have enough penetration in a wide area quickly enough and found it difficult to basically break them down.

“They were always a threat, the crowd got behind them and there’s obviously a different atmosphere.

“A new manager, 10 [sic] new players, a lot of them from the lower divisions and they wanted to make their mark and they did that fantastically well I have to say, they were great and the crowd were excellent too to help them.”

He said he no real complaints with his team's failure to claim all three points.

“Frustration," he continued. "I haven’t seen the two yellow cards that the boy picked up, there were one or two unsavoury challenges, but it’s a game of football and I’ve got no complaints at all.

“When I look at it, as I say, we were probably better off playing against 11 than we were 10. That sometimes happens.”

He added: “We’ve got to be a bit more clinical, we didn’t do enough at the top end of the pitch, we didn’t move the ball quickly enough, we tried to complicate it too often and that gave them hope.

“The more challenges they got in, the more encouragement it gave them. I’ve been there many times, when you’re up against 10, the one thing you have to do is move the ball quicker in forward areas and we didn’t do that well enough.

“I still think we had enough chances to win it. Jack Grealish has had a wonderful one, a wonderful chance and the goalkeeper’s made a great save from Hourihane.

"Rushian Hepburn-Murphy’s an inch away from one in the last minute, but overall we’ll take it but there’s an itch of frustration with us because it was a great opportunity against 10 men, even though those 10 men were [great].

“I always thought this was going to be difficult with a new manager, completely new players, completely new, different team and there’s a different vibe out there today and that was pretty evident.”


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MrTown added 18:26 - Aug 18
couldn't have said it better myself: ABSOULTE WARRIORS.
17

MrTown added 18:26 - Aug 18
couldn't have said it better myself: ABSOULTE WARRIORS.
2

therein61 added 18:41 - Aug 18
Not seen a town side show that much get up and go in 6 seasons well done Paul may it continue!! onwards and upwards you blues
33

iaintaylorx added 18:47 - Aug 18
Always respected Bruce and great comments too. Especially mentioned how much different the atmosphere is. Great stuff lads!!
22

Mark added 18:49 - Aug 18
A massive confidence booster today, the lads were excellent and Hurst signings showed they are well capable of performing very well in the Championship. Derby and Sheff Wed are off to bad starts, so let's go there, play with no fear, and get our first win. COYB!
17

christiand added 18:54 - Aug 18
Very proud of the team. They have responded positively to criticism this week and being down to 10 men today, could this be the catalyst to kick start the beginning of a new era?!
16

Europablue added 18:54 - Aug 18
Great result. I thought we were heading for a thrashing, after we went down to 10 men. Very happy with the point, and it's something to build on now.
9

Bildestoned added 18:58 - Aug 18
Another 160 mile round trip and couldn't be more proud of OUR team (at last I can say that with conviction). It's all slowly coming together and whilst this might not be a play-off season the future now looks so much brighter. More spirit in that one display than the whole of last season and a team clearly united on the pitch.
Oh yes, and to all those Last Season Moaners and their comments about MM's ‘favourites' Chambers and Skuse I notice both were there again, picked by our new manager. Chambers epic today.
18

pensionerblue added 19:00 - Aug 18
I think that this performance shows that we are on the right track. Seven PH additions started the match today and they gave there all. The fans really appreciated the effort from the players as evidenced by the ovation particularly from the Bobby Robson stand at the end of the game - it is difficult to recall such a previous reaction from the fans in recent years even on those occasions when we have secured a win. The referee was indeed poor and quite a few of his decisions were difficult to follow - at the end of the day the sending off probably cost us the match. A difficult week ahead but we have shown that we can compete and hopefully we can put some more points on the board.
10

legal_blue added 19:06 - Aug 18
Very proud of the team today. Really entertaining match and who knows how we would have got on with 11 v 11?

Thought Edwards was absolute class. Nolan had a good game. Bart a couple of errors but an outstanding late save. Referee, as much as one can tell without replays, had an absolute shocker. No surprise he was accompanied by security leaving the pitch.

The atmosphere was rocking, too.

Our win will come, in Hurst we trust!
6

TractorBeezer added 19:08 - Aug 18
Well said Paul. Fantastic response from the boys .It was an entertaining game throughout irrespective of the circumstances. Proud of them and the appreciative supporters.
There's much to look forward to,
5

Reecex28 added 19:12 - Aug 18
PH thanks for giving us our club back
17

warwickblue added 19:20 - Aug 18
Excellent comments from Bruce about our lads but, honestly, he must be embarrassed at the way his boys were falling around.
11

warktheline added 19:21 - Aug 18
Well said Steve Bruce. Very pleased for Hurst and team!

Swn, stick that in your pipe and smoke it!!
11

Suffolkboy added 19:27 - Aug 18
So what a very good day in so many respects ; a team performance to savour , a delighted Manager ( who's own morale will have been considerably boosted ) and quite obviously superb support appreciated by all , including the independent ' witness ' Steve Bruce !
Come on you Blues , let's have more of the same !!( And commiserations to TE , sometimes Refs do have howlers !)
9

cat added 19:29 - Aug 18
Today's ‘buzzword' is PROUD. Credit to PH and players on a performance that will get the crowds back in numbers. The intent to get the ball forward or outwide was pleasing as was the energy and pace we now have in the team.
16

madmouse1959 added 19:49 - Aug 18
How can you even come close to comparing todays game with the kind of football we have watched previously. 100% effort and so glad we bought these new recruits to our club. The confidence should grow after games like that. (Would like to see Morris on the bench though)
13

LWNR2013 added 20:10 - Aug 18
Warriors absolutely, And a whole team of CHAMPIONSHIP players and very good ones at that. Chamber s and Skuse are pillars. And the atmosphere PURE ITFC. Nice afternoon out.
10

martin587 added 20:36 - Aug 18
The determination those players showed today proved to me and everybody at the match that they will come good and will be a power to beat.
They played their guts out for the team thereselves and the supporters.
I personally was very proud to be a Town supporter today.Its been a long time that we can say that after what has been served up in the past.
Well done Lads and I cannot wait till Tuesday.
12

ArnieM added 20:51 - Aug 18
It's been a long, long time since the Portmand Roads crowd has made SUCH a noise and ongoing atmosphere. Let's really keep this going guys. The players WILL respond to it.
13

delias_cheesy_flaps added 21:07 - Aug 18
My first game back since I exiled myself 2 seasons ago and what a notable change.

Apart from a sh*t Ref and 1 dodgy Lino which tarnished proceedings all in all it was a plus.

First half I was non-plused but the second half gave me a whole heap of confidence going forward, we were that competent that I didn't even think we were down to 10 men.

We created chances and all in all it would have been an injustice if we didn't get anything from this match, thankfully justice prevailed.

Well done team and it's only going to get better from here on in COYB.

9

LeighOnSeaBlue added 21:19 - Aug 18
Nice to hear an opposition manager speaking like that, even if he is an ex budgie!
Like everything PH says and will be interesting to see how the team is after 15 odd games. Finally looking like we're trying to go in the right direction
6

inghamspur added 21:56 - Aug 18
Much better. Ref was pants, with skids in.
3

blue75 added 22:15 - Aug 18
Thank you Mr Hurst today I've been able to enjoy a game of football I couldn't make the Blackburn game so this was my first this season. I look forward to the next as now I have a manger and a team that want to play & win something to be very proud of. Those who moan and whinge that we haven't won a game yet should wind their necks in, we have a young manager moulding his team the wins will come!! COYB
4

ITFCsince73 added 22:27 - Aug 18
Bildestoned. We need Chambers to be “epic” on a regular basis. No good having a great game today, then poor to average the next 3. Same with Scuse. Same with Jonas. They are the clubs senior players. The ones our new boys are looking up to.
3


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