On The Wander

...John Sheridan has identified where his team need to improve to have a chance of success in their play-off semi-final. 

In the first act of their final opportunity to gain promotion from Sky Bet League 2, the Greens found themselves 3-0 down – conceding goals in a manner that still does not sit well at all with the manager – scuppering a performance that Sheridan was generally pleased with.

“I’ve watched the video and I actually think we played well in the first half, box to box,” said John. “I don’t think Wycombe created too many opportunities against us, but at the same time I don’t think we’ve tested their keeper as much as we should have. 

“I thought we played well but it’s about putting the ball in the back of the net. We find ourselves 2-0 down, with two goals that were poor on our part. They are aggressive from set plays and they put balls in dangerous areas. We should do a lot better, and we have done a lot better over the season. 

“Luke [McCormick] hasn’t actually had much to do, which I have to take as a positive, but at the same time we’ve conceded three goals. You have to stay switched on.”

“People have got to know what their jobs are, stay more focused, pick up scraps and second balls and be aware of the dangers they’re going to throw at you. In open play I thought we dealt with them well.”

Indeed, Sheridan knows that performances that are only acceptable in part do not guarantee good results, and he is keen to see the squad return to executing the fundamentals of football better on Thursday night to give them every chance making their last-gasp efforts at Home Park worthwhile. 

“Good players do the simple things really well, and if you keep making the basic errors against better opposition, you get punished,” said John.

“This is something you’ve got to learn, and unfortunately it happens at this level, but I don’t want to be too negative about the players. I thought they responded really well. 

“We got something out of the game and we’re still right in the tie.”