Matt Taylor | It's another painful one to take

Matt Taylor

Matt Taylor was disappointed after Bristol Rovers’ late 2-1 defeat to Wycombe Wanderers in Sky Bet League One.  

The Gas were leading heading into the final fifteen minutes after Scott Sinclair’s clinical finish in the first half, but the Chairboys levelled through Daniel Harvie.  

It looked like the game would end equal going into six minutes of stoppage-time. However, Joe Low scored with seconds remaining to help the visitors claim all three points.  

Taylor discussed the game, the four changes he made and Wycombe's second goal. 

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Matt Taylor

Another painful end...

“Another painful end,” he said. "For so much of that game, certainly, in the first half, we were in a good position and got ahead. We probably deserved to be ahead at half-time.  

"We lost a little bit of field position in the second half and seemed to get a little bit deep. The opposition started to put us under a little bit of pressure, but there were still a couple of moments in which we could do so much better, which obviously led to the goals.  

"The timing of the second goal doesn’t give you any chance to get back into the game. Five minutes before that, Jamie Lindsay probably had the best chance of the second half. So, we could be standing here in a completely different position and not feeling the pain that we are feeling right now." 

The timing of the second goal doesn’t give you any chance to get back into the game.
Matt Taylor

We’re accountable for those goals and moments...

“The changes added maturity we just couldn’t sustain it or make it last,” said Taylor. "The change of shape probably settled us in a defensive capacity and generally, we were fine in that first half.  

“We can always be better with the ball, and we know we can get more crosses, more shots and get it out our feet a little bit quicker. There is still some uncertainty, nerves and shaky performances, even when we are ahead.  

"Then in the second half, you are looking at ones that can take us up the pitch and sustain it for longer to give everyone a little bit of a breather from their mental and physical pressure.  

"Even within that, we’re accountable for those goals and moments. It’s really disappointing because the structure in that second half, despite the field position, was OK. But then you’ve got to put your body in line with the ball a little bit more than we did." 

I can’t complain about their second goal...

"The players were complaining, but I can’t stand here and use it as an excuse because there’s enough big bodies and markers to take care of that situation," he said. "It’s always the manager’s responsibility.

"I would love to put myself in that situation or a different experienced head, but that ball has landed three yards out from the middle of the goal, and we have an awful lot of big players in and around that area.  

"It was a killer blow in the game, but that’s also been a little bit of a trend lately in terms of not dealing with that ball under a bit of physical pressure." 

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