Exeter 2 - 2 Bristol Rovers
"Three points lost" admits manager Trollope.
Manager Paul Trollope felt that it was a case of two points dropped at Exeter this afternoon.
"I think that's the case; in the closing stages of the game we were hugely frustrated to concede a penalty and we thought we had chances to have won the game after that, so we feel very frustrated that we aren't going back to Bristol with three points.
"Credit to Exeter, though, as they started the game very well, got themselves in front, and could have scored again. However we grew into the game and got back into it after creating a number of chances.
"Obviously the game changed in the second half with the sending off, after Will Hoskins was tripped as he was through on goal. At that stage, especially after we went ahead, it seemed that we would go on to win comfortably. We had the game in the palm of our hands, if you like, and I've spoken to the players about it and they felt that as well.
Unfortunately we stopped doing the things that you need to do when you are playing against ten men, and that is to keep the ball and to press the ball when the opposition are in possession. We stopped doing both for a little spell in the middle of the half and allowed Exeter some counter attacks and from one of those they were awarded a penalty."
Even after that, though, the manager felt there were chances for Rovers to win the game, and he wasn't best pleased with the decision to award a penalty against his side.
"Byron came across and took the ball and the lads are 100% convinced that it wasn't a penalty, so we are disappointed with that. Sometimes, though, these things go for you and at others they don't and it didn't today. Exeter showed a great spirit to try to come back with ten men and they had one or two decent breakaways that caused us some problems, though we contributed to that by giving the ball away too cheaply.
"As soon as they scored their second goal we sprang back into life, started passing the ball and switching play, and pushed them back and, on another day, we might have scored a winning goal."
If the second goal was disappointing, the first was also one he wasn't pleased with.
"Their lad has popped in between our centre half and our full back too easily. It was a free cross and a free header, so there are a lot of issues to be addressed. The first half wasn't a great one for us, and we took our time to get going, though as the half wore on we started to create.
"At half time I said that when we passed the ball with purpose, as well as simply and quickly, we created a lot of problems for Exeter though in the first half we didn't do that on a consistent basis.
"When we started to do that I thought we would go on to score more goals but it wasn't to be, and it was a frustrating afternoon for us."
He was delighted that both strikers were on the scoresheet.
"It looked like Will was going to draw a blank again this afternoon. He hit the bar in the first half and saw another effort saved just before he scored, but I'm pleased he scored his goal and I was delighted that Jo also scored. Having both strikers score is a real positive for us."
He admitted it had been a difficult day for everyone, given the tributes paid to former Exeter striker Adam Stansfield, who died recently after succumbing to bowel cancer.
"It was difficult, and while you try to make the game the focus I think the one minute's applause and how it was respected by everyone in the ground ,and the speech before it, just brought everything home and put everything into perspective and it was an emotional afternoon for all concerned."
More from Bristol's Sport
Listen Live
Now Playing
Pet Shop Boys
It's A Sin
Now Playing
Pet Shop Boys
It's A Sin
Comments
Add A Comment