McKenna: Patience Was Key Monday, 7th Nov 2022 22:56 Boss Kieran McKenna felt patience was the key as the Blues scored three second-half goals to win 3-0 at Bracknell Town in round one of the FA Cup at Bottom Meadow and set up a home tie with National League North side Buxton in the second round. Robins skipper Dan Bayliss netted an own goal for to put Town in front, before Freddie Ladapo and Panutche Camara with his first goal for the club cemented what in the end was a comfortable win for the Blues against the Southern League Premier Division side. “Nice occasion, especially for Bracknell really, it’s their night,” McKenna said. “First of all, it’s full of credit to them, I thought they did a great job. “One, with the infrastructure and the stadium and how they facilitated the game, it’s not easy to have a few thousand and the TV cameras here. “And on the pitch as well with a lot of heavy rainfall, they did a good job getting it as good as it could be. “Full credit to them, I think they should be proud on and off the pitch with how they conducted themselves and for us it’s a nice one to come through. “It’s never an easy game, it’s hard to enjoy it until you get the first goal because you know that all the responsibility is on you to go and win the game and nothing else is acceptable, and rightly so. “So, it’s hard to really enjoy it until you get the first goal and then after that we were able to enjoy it a little bit more.”
Having been made to work in the first half by a determined Bracknell team, Town’s quality and fitness eventually told in the second." “But we grew into it after 20, 25 minutes and started to recognise where the overload was and get through the pitch, and towards the end of the first half we had a couple of big chances. “Second half, we pushed on again and created more than enough. Patience was key, concentration were key, defended our set plays really well. Bracknell, even though they’re a lot of levels below us, they’re good on set plays, put seven in the six-yard box and swing it in with good in-swingers. “We had to defend that well and the goal at the end, Panutche’s goal comes from us defending one of those in-swingers with a good first contact and a good counter-attack. “That was a pleasing aspect of the night and I think all in all on the pitch, it’s just important to be through and into the next round.” McKenna named a strong side with regular starters including skipper Sam Morsy and Janoi Donacien in the XI. “It’s a one-game week really, we didn’t have a league fixture this weekend, so we counted this as the league fixture,” he explained. “It’s good to keep the boys in the rhythm of playing and, of course, give minutes to some of those who haven’t had so many minutes and just try and find that balance. I think all in all, hopefully we got the balance just about right.” Camara’s third goal was celebrated by the whole team with the summer signing from Plymouth evidently a popular member of the squad. “Yes, everyone was really happy for him, shows the spirit in the squad really,” McKenna continued. “He’s a positive person behind the scenes and the lads have taken to him. Nice moment for him and lovely to see that spirit in the group.” Kane Vincent-Young was named ITV’s man of the match having created two of the goals and the former Colchester man, who also had a goal of his own ruled out for offside, was a threat throughout down the left. “He was probably indicative of the performance really,” McKenna said. “First 20 minutes he was feeling his way in a little bit and maybe could have been a little bit more positive. “But once he found his rhythm in the game and found his confidence and recognised where the spaces were, he became a big threat and a big outlet towards the end of the first half and carried that into the second half and it was good for him to get the two assists.” Luke Woolfenden missed the trip with his partner having given birth to a daughter last week and McKenna revealed striker Tyreece John-Jules has picked up a niggle and Marcus Harness has been unwell. “Tyreece has a little hamstring injury, so we’ll have to assess that to see how he is,” he said. “And Marcus Harness has some sickness, so we’ll have to see how they are.” Looking ahead to round two and the visit of Buxton, McKenna said: “Nice draw for us in terms that it’s good for us to get a home game. Of course, another game we’re big favourites in and we have to deal with that responsibility and make sure we prepare the game well and do a good professional job. “And also it’s a good chance to go through to the third round, which is something that we really wanted to do. It gives us a good chance to do that but we know that as tonight we’re going to have to prepare well and perform well in the game.”
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