Ritchie: We got what we deserved

Mar 12 2008 by Dougie Thomson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

ANDY RITCHIE surveyed Town’s fourth defeat in five League I games and admitted: “We didn’t come out for the second half and we got what we deserved.”

The manager added: “It was a case of chalk and cheese. We were the better side in the first half and should really have had a couple of goals.

“But we were all over the place after the break, and while we could have sneaked a draw, we couldn’t complain about losing.

“In the second half, none of the team got close enough to their players, we didn’t pick up enough second balls and we didn’t react quickly enough in either box.

“Their right winger (Anthony Sweeney) hardly touched the ball in the first half, but he ran the show in the second.

“There can be no excuses, we just didn’t perform well enough in the second half.”

After goals by Town old boy Sam Collins (29th minute) and Michael Mackay (50th), Nathan Clarke pulled one back with a 64th-minute header, his second goal of the season.

“It was good to see Nathan score and it was a great header from the corner (by Andy Holdsworth) but it turned out to be nothing more than a consolation,” added Ritchie.

“We put in a really tough 90 minutes to win 1-0 at Leyton Orient on Saturday, and we needed to push on here.

“But we didn’t do that and our lack of consistency is the reason we are where we are in the league (15th).

“Inconsistency is common among young players, and we have quite a few, but the senior lads need to do more to help them through.

“It’s a hard task, but we have to keep going and as long as there’s a mathematical chance of making the play-offs, we’ll try for it.”

Next up on Saturday are sixth-placed Southend, who drew 1-1 at home to Nottingham Forest.

The hosts bossed the first half and went ahead when Hal Robson-Kanu slammed home after James Walker’s flicked 20th-minute header.

Forest improved after the break and got their equaliser through substitute Matt Thornhill to finish off in the 65th minute.

An injury-time equaliser from Chris Greenacre brought Tranmere a 1-1 draw at leaders Swansea, who had gone ahead through Alan Tate two minutes before the break.

Second-placed Doncaster now trail the Swans by six points after a 2-1 home win over Gillingham.

Leeds lost 2-1 at home to Cheltenham.