Cheltenham Town manager Steve Cotterill expressed his frustration after his side’s heavy 5-2 loss at Notts County, insisting the scoreline did not reflect the reality of the match.
“In the first half, I felt we were the better side,” Cotterill said. “We gave away some sloppy goals, and missing Ben Stevenson in that crucial holding midfield role certainly hurt us. I’m not convinced the red card was justified; I haven’t reviewed it yet, but word is it’s not a red card. Giving the referee too many chances to make decisions, especially away from home, only works against you.”
Cotterill praised his team’s attacking efforts, highlighting Isaac Hutchinson’s fine opener. “We scored two good goals and came out strong. But playing with 10 men for the final 16 minutes was tough on the lads,” he added. “We’ve had a grueling schedule with six out of nine games away, and it’s starting to take its toll.”
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Despite falling behind, Cheltenham remained competitive for much of the match. Cotterill pushed back on the heavy scoreline: “A 5-2 result is not reflective of what happened on the pitch — not in a million years. If anyone thinks otherwise, they watched a different game.”
He pinpointed key moments in the second half where mistakes led to goals, explaining, “The third and fourth goals were well taken by their players, but poor from us defensively. Fatigue was definitely a factor as the run of games has caught up with us.”
Regarding the contentious red card, Cotterill said, “I will review it and consider an appeal. But when you give a referee that opportunity, he is likely to take it, which doesn’t help us.”
Looking ahead to the extended break before their next game, Cotterill was uncertain. “We wanted the next game to be sooner against Tranmere, but now with that postponed, we’ll see what the next 13 days bring.”
Injury concerns remain, particularly over Ben Stevenson. “He wasn’t ready today due to a groin injury. His return will depend on how he responds in the coming days,” Cotterill noted. He praised Stevenson’s importance: “Ben has been vital since joining. When he’s not there, you realize how much he impacts the game — he would have stopped some of those goals.”
Cotterill reflected on the team’s resilience despite challenges. “We’ve had many comings and goings, loans in and out, and it’s been a tough season. The lads have shown incredible work ethic and honesty. Today, it just seemed like that effort ran out, but they played like winners.”
On the comparison to his managerial stint at Notts County, Cotterill shared, “Notts had a strong squad and dressing room when I arrived and winning the league there was a highlight. Cheltenham is a different challenge, but the hard work and dedication are the same. We didn’t deserve such a heavy defeat today.”