Cheltenham Town manager Steve Cotterill expressed his frustration following a tough 5-2 defeat to Notts County, calling the scoreline unfair and unreflective of the game. Cotterill felt his side performed well in the first half and believed the result did not mirror the competitive nature of the match.
“In the first half I thought we were the better team,” Cotterill said. “We gave away some sloppy goals, and missing Ben Stevenson in the holding role was a big loss. I’m sure he would have snuffed out a couple of those chances.”
The manager also questioned the red card that left Cheltenham a man down for the final 16 minutes. While he hadn’t reviewed the incident fully, Cotterill noted, “People are saying it wasn’t a red, but once you commit, you give the referee an opportunity—and away from home, you don’t want to do that.”
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Despite the setback, Cotterill praised his players’ efforts, highlighting two well-earned goals including a fine strike from Isaac Hutchinson. “We looked like it’s been one game too many, especially with 10 men at the end, but the players have been amazing through a demanding run.”
He emphasized that the scoreline was not representative of the match, stating firmly, “Today is never a 5-2 scoreline, not in a million years. If anyone thinks that, they were watching a different game.”
Looking ahead, Cotterill welcomed the 13-day break before their next fixture, though he admitted uncertainty over how to approach it. Player fitness remains a concern, with Ben Stevenson recovering from a groin injury and potential signing Mo Faal’s availability still to be determined.
Reflecting on the season so far, Cotterill acknowledged the challenges but expressed pride in how the squad has performed given the difficult circumstances, including multiple player changes and an intense fixture list.
“Sometimes you don’t quite appreciate a player until you haven’t got them,” he said of Stevenson. “We’ve come a long way with a lot of honesty and hard work. Our legs and energy ran out today, but the lads played like winners. We came here to compete, not to sit back.”
Despite their record of 10 wins, eight draws, and 10 losses, Cotterill compared his current squad’s resilience to his time managing Notts County, affirming the determination that has propelled the team.
“It’s been tough, but we have earned everything we’ve achieved through hard work and commitment. Today was not the result we deserved, but the effort was there, and that counts,” Cotterill concluded.