If the Spartans players experienced freezing temperatures on the pitch during the 0-2 defeat against Ashton United it’s probably safe to say they experienced a frosty reception from manager Tom Wade post match. The Spartans manager gave an honest and frank assessment of his side’s performance as the home side gained revenge for their defeat at Croft Park a month ago. The former Harrogate and Gateshead manager bemoaned Spartans ability to put together a complete ninety minute performance, something that has been a somewhat unwanted feature of their season.
He said “I thought the first half we bossed it in midfield with the three lads in there starting the game really well in terms of possession but without really creating too much. Buchanan has hit the bar from a superb corner from Turnbull and there were a couple of half chances but second half we just didn’t come out and play and that’s not good enough for this club. How many times have we spoken about playing in patches rather than for a whole ninety minutes?”
With the increasingly heavy snow falling and a pitch getting harder by the minute the home side were the ones who adapted to the conditions quicker and showed a lot of heart to take all three points. Wade was unhappy with Spartans inabililty to match the intensity and drive shown by United.
Wade said “It’s a night for battlers tonight and players who are prepared to put a little bit extra in when it’s freezing cold, the pitch is hard and the snow is right in your face. It’s a hard pitch to play on but I think in all honesty they just wanted it more than we did and I hate saying that but it’s just me being honest.”
After taking charge just over two weeks ago from Paddy Atkinson, Wade admitted that it is still very much a work inprogress as he searches for the right formula to get results away from home. If Saturday’s narrow defeat at FC United of Manchester will have given Wade some hope that his side are heading in the right direction but tonight he admitted his disappointment and promised action would be taken.
He revealed “We played well on Saturday against FC United of Manchester without being rewarded but we are still searching for a formation that works away from Croft Park. We didn’t have a big crowd to deal with tonight unlike Saturday so there isn’t that excuse, it was purely just eleven men against eleven men. The opposition just had more heart than us and that is something we need to change”.