Manager Kieran McKenna felt he could add to much more to what he’d said after previous games following the Blues’ 1-1 draw with bottom club Crewe.

Town have drawn eight of their last 14, with five of their last seven away games having ended all-square, most matches the Blues will feel they should have won.

“Probably not too much different that I can add,” McKenna said when asked whether it was essentially the same story for his side. ”It was a lot of the same aspects of the performance.

“I didn’t think it was a great game overall, to be honest. Conditions were difficult, I didn’t think the level of the game was that high.

“But we put ourselves in a good position, 1-0 up, had chances to go and kill the game, didn’t do it and 1-0 is not enough in this league to be completely secure and it’s a really poor goal that we concede.

“Something we were doing well a little while ago was clean sheets, really defending well as a team, to see games out whenever we needed to, and that’s two games now, Wigan on Tuesday night and today.

“The goals that we conceded were not acceptable, won’t be accepted. We need to get back to that as a team.

“We know need to score more goals, that’s clear, that’s something that will be improved but the players that are here, we need to get back to the mindset of clean sheets, defending well and if we’ve got a narrow lead in a game we have to see the game out with more determination and resilience than we’ve seen today.”

McKenna had been keen to end the season on two wins with the travelling support having been impressive throughout the campaign.

“The away fans have definitely been fantastic all year, probably deserved to win to go home happy,” he said.

“We couldn’t have been in a better position really, 1-0 up, they’re throwing bodies forward, leaving loads of space and the onus is on us to have to go and kill the game in that scenario.

“There was a big wind, the last few minutes of the final home game of the season so they’re going to go and put some pressure on our goal at the end of the game and we have to go and see it out.

“The away fans have been fantastic, we can’t ask for any more, we only hope we get the same level of support next year and it’s up to us and the club to be really crystal clear about the things that we need to improve up net year.”

How easy to change the mindset and instil a ruthless streak? “Mindset is part of it, it’s not the only part of it. It’s mindset, it’s coaching, it’s recruitment, it’s everything.

“There’s different work we have to do on the pitch, there’s a lot of work to be done off the pitch and it’s clear for this group at the moment that’s a big step that needs to be made.”

McKenna included youngster Cameron Humphreys and Tawanda Chirewa on the bench - as well as keeper Nick Hayes - but neither made it on to the field.

“No, which was a shame,” McKenna said. “With the position that we had at half-time, you’re hoping that the game would go that way.

“Obviously they’re trusted to play even with a narrow lead but just the type of game that it was probably going to be in that spell of the game when we hadn’t got the second goal, it was always probably going to be a few balls and pressure coming into our box, so it probably wasn’t the right game for them to come and flourish.

“Two talented young players we believe in and think could have a part to play going forward.”

McKenna was pleased with Kane Vincent-Young’s display at right wing-back, the former Colchester man having created Conor Chaplin’s goal.

“Yes, good to see him back on the pitch,” he said. “It’s been a frustrating time for him but Kane came in and gave it his all, a little bit higher up than he’s done previously.

“He carried a little bit of a threat through the game and obviously got a good assist.”

Sone Aluko and Wes Burns missed out with knocks and McKenna says the pair may well not be involved in next week’s final game of the season at home to Charlton.

“Both touch and go, to be honest,” he said. “Wes and Sone both touch and go. They’re not going to be training in the early part of next week. Probably the best case scenario is that they can join the group at the back end of next week. We’ll have to wait and see how the week goes.”

The Northern Irishman says he’d like to end the season on a high when the Addicks visit Portman Road.

“I think so,” he continued. “There’s a responsibility to the supporters to make sure that we do. I thought Tuesday night performance-wise was a high, it was maybe as good as we’ve been for large parts of that game.

“I think everyone who came to that game really enjoyed it, enjoyed the performance and then energy in the game and we need to go and recreate a similar sort of atmosphere next Saturday and then again if we get in those winning positions then we have to do better than we are at the moment.”

Asked whether he’s still learning what he needs to do in the summer on a game by game basis, he added: “I don’t think there’s many different lessons at the moment, we seem to be getting the same lesson repeatedly.

“There are things that we’ve spoken about but sometimes there are so many things you can speak about and there are some other things that you need to do.

“Every game’s an education, obviously this is my first time playing Crewe away from home and you learn about the different teams and things like that, but I think it’s probably already pretty fixed in my mindset in terms of what needs to be improved in the summer.”

Crewe interim-manager Alex Morris felt his side were worthy of taking a point from the game.

“I thought we got exactly what we deserved from the game,” he told his club's official site. “I thought the lads were terrific in all aspects, not so good with the ball until the later aspects of the game but I think our defensively our play was very good.

“There were also some good opportunities to catch them out of shape on the counter-attack in the first half but we didn’t quite get that final pass right. Maybe there was a lack of belief at the top of the end of the pitch.

“Second half it levelled out a bit, there wasn’t a lot happening at both ends of the pitch but we came to life in the last 15 minutes which is really pleasing. That bodes well for the future.

“We switched off for a split second for their goal. We didn’t put enough pressure on high up the pitch and Chaplin ghosted in to score.

“Whilst it changed the complexion of the game, the message stayed the same at half-time. There were still those positives. I thought we were nice and compact and looked to attack in transition.

“I was delighted with the way we finished the game. We were on the front foot and spending more time in their half of the pitch.

“It was a terrific strike to give us a point and I was delighted for Tom. The only thing that was disappointing that we had three corners where we could have forced the issue but we put one out for a goal-kick and two in to the goalkeeper's hands. We gave up those opportunities to win the game.”

Photo: TWTD

Bluearmy_81 added 10:31 - Apr 24 Good. I'd be worried if it wasn't (fixed in his mind already.)
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TimmyH added 11:33 - Apr 24 Well it's pretty obvious to the majority on here we need 2 decent strikers, a dependable deputy for Morsy and the left side sorted out, but can't help feeling our problems lie deeper than this in the style of our play and mentality.
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blueboy1981 added 12:32 - Apr 24 Not exactly Einstein Intelligence needed to see the problems - much possession, serious shortage of Goals, defence leaking late Goals. There for all to see, over many, many games.
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1960H added 13:25 - Apr 24 As I have said of previous managers, the time to judge him is after the summer changes and three months into the new season, we will get a better idea about him then
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:40 - Apr 25 no fannying about, the strikers Norwood, Bonne, Pigott need replacing. We dont want to be wasting half a season on under achievers and then getting desperate to find players in January .
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Razor added 10:31 - Apr 25 Once again such an important summer and we can then see how good K Mac really is and he can assemble his own team after what he was lefyt ewith----I personally have complete faith in him and am so much looking forward to July 30th already.
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Kingfisher49 added 13:05 - Apr 25 The earlier the right players can be brought in the better, move on the ones set to leave. Then the new season training can include all new and present players in next seasons squad, Signings near to the start of the season take time to get used to other players and the earlier it is sorted the better. One player who I do think would be a good signing is Mark Noble from West Ham, he has played here before and has a season or two left in his legs and a wealth of experience which I think is one thing which has been missing this last season. But in K Mc we have an astute Manager who I totally trust to get our club going upwards next season.

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Marinersnose added 15:46 - Apr 26 It's obvious we need a couple of decent strikers through the door plus an additional left sided player who will compete with Ndaba. I'm not satisfied that our midfield is anywhere near good enough if we are serious about promotion. Morsy is a decent player at this level and Evans is okay but we haven't replaced a Downes type player . I'd prefer Evans as a backup player as he's inconsistent and slows the game down. Yes he can pick a pass but there are many players better than him at this level. I'm optimistic and excited about the new season but slightly confused and disappointed that the likes of Humphries hasn't been given a start.

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