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Cook: We Keep Giving Teams Legs Up
Saturday, 30th Oct 2021 18:10

Town boss Paul Cook felt his side would have deserved a point from their 2-1 defeat to League One leaders Plymouth at Home Park but admits the Blues were once again guilty of giving the opposition a leg up by conceding at a crucial moment when they were in the ascendency.

Luke Jephcott was allowed to level a minute before the break at a time when Town were comfortably in control at 1-0 up following George Edmundson’s goal.

Five minutes after the restart, one-time Town loanee Conor Grant scored Argyle’s second with the Blues missing three very good chances late on.

Asked whether his team deserved something from the match, Cook said: “Yes, I think the biggest thing was the goal before half-time again. We’d got ourselves in a good situation. Plymouth test every side that come here, they’re a good side that are having a great season.

“And you have to get in at half-time, you have to. You’re 1-0 up, you have to get in. We gave silly free-kick away after silly free-kick, you’ve got great delivery [from Plymouth] and eventually something’s going to drop, and unfortunately for us it did. And they’re the moments we’re struggling to manage.

“I think the the disappointment of the second goal probably triggered us into our best spell of the game and we’ve created three big, big chances and we have to score. If we’d have left today with the result 2-2, our fans would have been a little bit more jovial, jubilant, whatever you want to say, happier.

“But the reality is that what are our problems at three o’clock are still our problems at five and it’s my job and the staff’s to look at, to come away and see what we’ve done well, and we can open most teams up in the league, but that solidity at the other end has to be better. It’s not right, and especially the timing of the goals.”

Reflecting on the late chances which Kyle Edwards, Macauley Bonne and Rekeem Harper ought to have put away, Cook said: “The lads win and lose together. It was a big League One game today, a great atmosphere in the stadium.

“We feel we’ll play our part at some point because we travel to do that. Plymouth have got some good players going forward, they score goals and they were a threat. But the goals we give away aren’t good enough.

“The chances we create are good chances that we have to work to get and at the opposite end it’s not so [much the case]. Bitterly disappointing day but there’s no time for anything other than to look forward.”

He added: “I think Plymouth are doing great, I’d like to think we could go on a run again and that could see us do better.


“There’s a long, long way to go, we showed some really good signs in the game today and especially when we move the ball from side to side and get full-backs in we can open teams up.

“But unfortunately we didn’t get that goal which would have seen us return to Suffolk with, in my opinion, a fully deserved point but unfortunately that’s how it is.”

Cook found himself without Janoi Donacien and Wes Burns due to illness and Sone Aluko, who suffered a knock in training.

“Aluko was Thursday, Janoi and Wes Burns were this morning,” he said. “As you can imagine, it’s not good for preparation, but there are no excuses.

“I’m not going to go down that road, we love preparing properly for the game. We’ve had two lads who haven’t trained Thursday and Friday and have been sick and can’t get on the pitch, Conor Chaplin never trained all week with a back spasm problem, and Aluko pulled out on Thursday.

“Groin, little problem Thursday afternoon, so we travelled here with no right side Saturday morning, so it wasn’t ideal, but that’s football lads, isn’t it?

“It’s not an excuse, we’ve got a good squad. Does that stop us conceding a goal before half-time, no? That’s my biggest gripe about today.

“The stadium’s up again [as a result of the goal], the euphoria in the stadium’s good, we don’t let the dust settle in the crowd, we don’t allow the Portsmouth performance to grow again, we keep giving teams legs up. And at the minute it’s a habit that we do far too often.”

As a result of those absentees, Hayden Coulson returned from his thigh injury in an unfamiliar right midfield role.

“I didn’t really have a choice, Kayden Jackson’s only just returned from Covid for the day, we were very limited in our options,” Cook continued.

“I thought Wolfie did smashing as a stay-at-home right-back, we didn’t really have any choice. Hayden did his best in the game, it’s always going to be difficult to come in in an unnatural position.

“It is what it is, but for us the disappointment is not taking anything from the game.”

Will any of those who missed out today be back for Tuesday’s trip to Wycombe? “As you can imagine, we’re just going try and get back and have a look at what’s available and see what we can do because we are being a little bit stretched at the minute, that’s for sure.”

Plymouth boss Ryan Lowe was delighted with the three points, which he felt his side deserved.

“We are pleased. We are just going about our business the right way. It doesn't matter who they are we have to respect them all,” he told Plymouth Live.

“We have to put the game plan together to make sure we can come out with results and performances. At the moment we are doing that and long may it continue.

“I thought we were well worthy of a couple of goals, certainly, against a tough team - a team that played a different way.

“They got in our faces, they got after us a little bit, and we were expecting that, but with the home crowd here we want to make sure we put on a show for our fans and I think we certainly did that.”

Regarding having gone behind, he added: “In terms of the lads, when they concede a goal like that, they know they have to flick that switch, if you like, and let's go again, let's keep doing what we are doing.

“When we move the ball fast and accurate then we do look a good team. If we continue to keep doing that then the chances are we will create and score goals.”

Reflecting on Jephcott's equaliser, he said: “I thought the ball off Adam Randell was fantastic. From that pocket - an eight position if you like - he has whipped it right in.

“Joe [Edwards] has made that run that he makes numerous times and Jephs robbed it off him, did he? It was a good job he wasn't offside, I wouldn't have been happy about that!

“The momentum then swings and they are obviously a little bit disappointed. We had to make sure we went out for the second half and did what we did.

“We got a goal, and I felt we should have had another one, but, look, I'm not complaining. It's three points and another good win.”


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cat added 18:21 - Oct 30
Conceding just on half time (specially away) changes the whole mood of the oppo's dressing room, lifts the home crowd and it gives them hope, belief and momentum. Questionable selections down the right side but unlike Cook we have the benefit of highlight to form our opinions. Just a bump in the road, can't win em all, need a good performance on Tuesday.
11

TimmyH added 18:28 - Oct 30
About time it was coached out of them Paul or get a stronger work ethic out of the players...it can't keep happening.
1

raycrawfordswig added 18:31 - Oct 30
Do your job and sort it out.
1

bedsitfc added 18:32 - Oct 30
We win when we against weak teams but against anyone half reasonable we struggle and we always will with tactically inept cook
-5

pennblue added 18:32 - Oct 30
The free kick they equalised from was an early Xmas present. But the ref seemed to be giving them presents all afternoon. Ref's at this level should not be bias to the home teams. But overall I thought 2-1 was a fair result, we needed another couple of players to show themselves, just not enough of them were at the races today. But PC will have learned a lot today about his team. Fair play to Bersant, he said he was frustrated at not playing enough, well he has staked his claim for a starting place Tuesday night. For me, Morsy was class, stand out player, head and shoulders above anyone else in the team today, did it pretty much on his own all game. Time to go again Tuesday night, but we need more of a showing.
8

BlueRuin69 added 18:32 - Oct 30
Didnt have a choice!?!?!?!?!? Err ive got one, Celina left, Edwards right!
10

ArnieM added 18:38 - Oct 30
“ questionable selections down the right side”….. did he have much other option with Burns, Aluko, and JD all out ?
3

rgp1 added 18:40 - Oct 30
Sick of this now! When is this football going to give us something! Sick of excuses and people happy clapping poor performances. Yes it was entertaining but with all these so called star players we STILL cannot get the basics right. If you concede the way we do you will never get out of this league.

What will the excuses be for Tuesday?
-7

cat added 18:41 - Oct 30
We did ArnieM but it weren't Coulson
4

Radlett_blue added 18:43 - Oct 30
" a little bit stretched at the moment" - with one of the largest & most expensive squads in this league? Do us a favour, Cook, & stop making feeble excuses.
11

Drifter3012 added 18:52 - Oct 30
Bizarre comments.
Who were the players sick Thursday & Friday?
Was it Burns & JD?
For a player who hasn't trained, Chaplin played well but again was that the right call?
And as for no choice about Coulson on the right of midfield.
Wouldn't a fully fit El Mizouni or Harper had been better or as has already been said Celina on the left & Edwards on the right?
Cook is a worry at times.

However we could have and should have equalised in the last 20 minutes and that was down to bad football from Edwards & Bonne, as simple as that, not Cook's fault.
And in fairness a draw would have been a good result.

Hopefully we will have players fit again for Tuesday and maybe we can get the win against a side that dropped 2 points today from a winning position.
10

Suffolkboy added 18:59 - Oct 30
PC's words and phrases seem destined for multiple interpretations ; is he covering his tracks ? is he offering explanations ? is he avoiding the hard harsh realities of Managerial responsibility for analysis and recovery with the elimination of repeated errors and failings ?
So far this season the pinpointing of individual or group weaknesses / errors has been publicly avoided ; sadly that leaves the onlooker in the land of the uncertain ,about lots of things !
Come on PC start really earning your corn ,show us a team which is totally together and knows how to dig in ,be resolute and also earn our respect !
It's down to you PC ; everyone wishes well ,bring us presents before Christmas !
COYB
1

Dear_oh_Dear added 19:11 - Oct 30
Seems we don't really have strength in depth
3

ringwoodblue added 19:14 - Oct 30
Mid-table mediocrity is where we are at and failure to beat the top teams will see us staying there. I'm sorry but I don't have confidence that Cook can get us any higher.
9

surgery added 19:19 - Oct 30
We all know that. So what does it tell us? The players are not good enough or you're not?
7

HALLSJ added 19:30 - Oct 30
Obviously!
1

blues1 added 19:30 - Oct 30
Bedsitfc . Typical comment from a fan who only appears on here when we lose. What has tactics got to do with players missing gilt edged chances? Or players making individual mistakes or giving away poor free kicks. That's purely down to the players themselves. And unless it's the same player making those mistakes every game how can the manager prevent it. If its the same player he can drop him. Can't drop every player tho can he? As forcthose who keep going on about us having a big squad? Where have you been the past 6 months? We signed 19 but lost 26 players in the summer. Work it out for urself. Plus, like every other team we have a 22 man squad of players eligible to play. (Plus youngsters). So no bigger a squad than anyone else.
11

Markp68 added 19:34 - Oct 30
Ringwoodblue spot on. Cook as someone said to me the other day was an Evans appointment and his appointment shows an Evans level of ambition. For me he will never be the answer to get us where we want to be but so many fans don't seem to see that. I hope I'm wrong but I fear I'm not
4

Jugsy added 20:04 - Oct 30
Having been to the game loving some of these comments. There really are some clueless fans here… 2-1 was not a fair result, the ref played into Plymouth's game plan and bought all their dives and calls for fouls. Check their last few games and see how many fouls they win, it's their plan. Penney shouldn't have been beaten for the first goal, should have headed out, harder to see the second from where we were. Definitely should have been at least 2-2 with the chances we had, that's on us to improve. Some good individual performances, Edmundsen was class. Penney wasn't, Wolfy too relaxed. Celina looks ready to start now, deserved to be dropped before. Markp68 - you're a another level… look at Cook's record. He'll come good, stop looking for overnight success. Great example? Plymouth we're imploding in the second half of last season under the same manager. Now look at them. And if you really believe the new owners had nothing to do with Cook coming in… can anyone tell me when new ownership of a club didn't come with a new manager? There's very few examples.
7

Linkboy13 added 20:15 - Oct 30
Still lacking a dominant leader at the centre of defence for me and have been for years since Devos, Mc cauley and Mowbray. Why are some people on here calling for Bonne to be rested he's the only striker who looks a goal threat . Edwards does very little and has no end product. Wes Burns impresses nearly every time i see him and plays with heart and desire lacking in some of the players at the club. Let's hope Burns, Aluko and Donasien are all fit for Tuesday otherwise could be another struggle. Must win this game so i would pick Celina as well dispite not doing much when he hasn't got the ball .
1

bedsitfc added 20:36 - Oct 30
Blues1 - only comment when we lose??????? We don't lose that often but it does feel like we do!

As with all my comments it's about the bigger picture not necessarily on 1 game.

But if you want a comment on this one game here it comes

Plymouth were much better organised each player knew his job (even the crap Wilson that was sh!t apparently when here). We still look like a team that has never played together. We have a squad any manager in league 1 would love to have.
There wasn't 1 player in their team that I would swap with one of ours.
5

Eddie1985 added 20:50 - Oct 30
Cook should be doing better, given the control and quality of players he's signed but he is not, anything less than promotion is failure.. People like blues 1 advance a narrative where people only come on here when we lose??! It's a fantasy, we all support the same club and want to win just hold a different view on the best way for us to advance and can't bear the idea of bring wrong. I however want to be wrong about Cook but fear I'm not
7

shakytown added 21:49 - Oct 30
We score and the opposition lift but we dont respond. Too many players get overconfident and by the time we recover the games gone. We have yet to come from a goal down win and thats when you know you have a team not just a bunch of prima donnas.
5

Saxonblue74 added 22:51 - Oct 30
A narrow defeat away to a team top of the table who have not lost since game 1. Gilt edged chances missed. A little perspective wouldn't go amiss!
6

JuniorBrown added 23:17 - Oct 30
I can't get my head round half of the comments from our fans… We've lost 2-1 away, against the most in form team and league leaders. 2nd loss in 10. Give it a rest, it's honestly such boring reading. We aren't going to win every game, so just chill out, enjoy the good, and take the not so good on the chin.
6


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