LEE Richardson gave an exclusive interview to SPIREITES WORLD on Monday read the highlights right here,

Well Lee you have had some time to reflect on the Bradford defeat what's your thoughts on the game?

A mix really disappointed in the result but we played well in the first half and perhaps shaded it. In the second half we gave them the impetus with a couple of non clearances when under pressure. We should have knocked the ball back into there final third. Rochey did well to keep one out then a few minutes later we did it again Rochey was rounded but Reuben Hazel cleared off the line. From then on they always seemed the more likely to grab a goal and that's what happened. So that was disappointing and we have to learn from it but I feel there are lots of positives from the game.

Don't you think that the real difference between the sides was Dean Windass?

I think he was a major factor there is no getting away from that if we had Dean Windass in our side the score line could have been the other way round. But we new that before the game and I thought we dealt with him fairly well until he scored the goal. I have looked at the goals again and I am disappointed in the way we conceded them. Part of our job is to keep reminding players and going over what they are doing wrong and pointing out mistakes and hopefully we can then do things better.  Like I said after the Yeovil game we are not out of the woods yet but when we get Bailey Downes and Kovacs back we will have real competition for places.

It was 0-0 you made some substitutions on reflection did you make the right ones?

I think so the hope was that they would give us a lift because we were under pressure at the time. I just felt we needed someone to get there foot on the ball which Sammy did to good effect. Adam Smith had a few forays but he really did not join up with the loan striker enough. But even with the benefit of hindsight I think I would still have made the same changes. The score was still 0-0 so it was a case of trying to improve what we were doing and I thought for five minutes Sammy Clingan was very influential and maybe Adam Smith could provide a bit of magic in the last thirty minutes.

Did you think abut putting the Chief on to add a physical presence in the later stages?

I did think about the Chief but I felt that Colin Larkin's pace would cause them more problems. I did think about going 4-4-2 but I decided personnel was the answer and not the system at 0-0. Both wide players had done very little in the second half Hursty had made more of an impact in the game than Hally so brought on Adam for him. But what we failed to do then was utilise our possession and clear our lines well enough and hence we were under pressure and consequentially we conceded the goals.

A few players got knocks in the game what's the latest with them?

Kevan Hurst got a whack on his calf so we are monitoring him this week. Shane Nicholson's got badly blistered feet and Blathers is a bit stiff but they are old men and you expect that after a tough game. Derek Niven's a bit tired and Caleb Folan got a bump on his head but he will be alright.

Roy was watching from stands did he have similar thoughts to yourself on the game?

He pretty much agrees with my assessment, we were both very happy at half time when I spoke to him and then at the end of the game  he also thought we gave Bradford  to much encouragement to pressurise us.

In terms of the younger lads they appear to be settling into League football very well

I think both Phil Picken and Kevan Hurst have done very well. Kevan got a little more experience but Phil's seems to be getting better every game.He's not the biggest but overall they have both done very well and made a contribution to our performances which I feel have been okay in the main.

Roy's back do you think you will stick with the fluid 4-5-1 or revert back to 4-4-2  against Bournemouth?

I am not sure at the moment it's to early to say. We have a Reserve game on Tuesday then we will see in training on Wednesday and Thursday. But know we can play either way so we are a bit like Sven and England at the moment.

Do you mean in terms of poor tactics and strange substitutions? (Laughing)

(Laughing ) No the option to play either

Lee Richardson was talking to Geoff Mitchell

 

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