Mark Yates discusses tonight's 1-0 defeat at home to Southend United
Cheltenham chief Mark Yates speaking to the press following a frustrating 1-0 loss to Southend:"The game got ruined by the official. Our supporters are the most mild mannered supporters in the world and I have said it before so for them to give the referee what they did at the end of the game and throughout the game says it all. I don't want to say anymore on it because I'll only get myself in trouble.
"I've seen the red card at half-time and I thought it was very harsh but Jason has given him the chance to send him off so I don't think there's anything we can do. He says he elbowed him and he hasn't but he shouldn't have even bothered grappling or whatever he did. It was a great game until that and it was two good sides playing decent stuff. Southend have shown in the second half what a decent passing side they are and credit to them for that and it was a good goal. Outstanding blocks and outstanding saves from the goalkeeper when we needed it because we could have easily lost it by two or three and Matt Richards at the end too with that saving block after running back 30 or 40 yards. It probably just sums up the way we are at the moment so I'm really pleased with that and the fact they didn't score any more goals. We were committed but just paid the price for giving the referee a chance to send one of our players off.
"We did stick at it and it was hard to do so because there were some ludicrous decisions and some amazing yellow cards. I've booked an appointment with him (referee) at ten past ten so I'll have a chat with him and see what he thinks. It made it extra tough for us but now we have got to bin that and respond properly. The effort and commitment is there for everyone to see and we have played well in all three games where we haven't won. We've probably had 36 or 38 shots in those three games and not scored but it's not a problem and just need to be a bit more clinical. We just need to get back to having 11 on the pitch and back to what we do well.
"Joe (Hanks) did well and Omari (Sterling-James) did well because he gave us an attacking threat. I thought he put a few good balls into the box which we didn't get on the end of. I thought Southend started well but Trevor hasn't had too much to do in the first half and I thought we looked more threatening until Jason's sending off. It is disappointing but we've got to dust ourselves down and go again. This season was never going to be plain sailing because there are some really good sides in this division. Southend were one of them and like I said in my programme notes, they will be up there and they have some good players.
"I'm not concerned with the lack of goals. People will talk about Koby but he was here for the two previous games so I'm not worried at all. It's obviously something we don't want to extend because we want to score goals and entertain people but as long as we get the effort, commitment and endeavour off the players then that's all I'm bothered about at the moment. We have had a pleasing start and we want to maintain that so we'll try for the win on Saturday."
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