Cheltenham Town manager Steve Cotterill spoke candidly following the 2-0 defeat to Colchester United, expressing disappointment but reaffirming his commitment to the team.
Reflecting on the match, Cotterill acknowledged a slow start that has been a recurring issue. “We haven’t started well for a little while now, and we didn’t start well in this game either,” he noted. Cotterill highlighted Colchester’s strong possession but emphasized Cheltenham’s offensive efforts: “We had more of the ball today and as many efforts on goal as they did. They just had more on target, and those important chances went in.”
The first goal, which Cheltenham believed was offside, was a point of contention. Cotterill explained, “One of their players came to me after the game admitting it was offside. From our angle, it looked marginally offside, though they might have had a better view.” The second goal, a well-executed finish, was one Cheltenham could have blocked, which added to the disappointment. Cotterill also disagreed with a penalty decision against his side, describing the contact as minimal and outside the box.
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Despite some flashes of quality football during the game, Cotterill felt the team didn’t maintain performance levels consistently. “We showed good moments in patches, but it’s about sustaining that, and we haven’t done it yet,” he said. When asked about the performance overall, he chose to keep some frustrations private to avoid contributing to negativity at the club.
On individual performances, Cotterill was clear that not enough players found their form: “If only four or five players perform well, you get beaten; you need more for better results.” He also provided an update on Sam Sherring’s hamstring injury, which forced tactical changes, such as putting Jordan Thomas in a more attacking role. Despite this, the team’s vulnerability on transitions was a factor in conceding.
Discussing tactical adjustments, Cotterill elaborated on switching Ethon Archer and Jordan Thomas to explore their natural positions and to cope with Colchester’s narrow wingers. While some strategies showed promise, lack of execution and consistency hindered success.
Looking at defensive efforts, Cotterill assessed Jonathan Tomkinson’s move to centre-back as acceptable, though he identified positional errors that contributed to the first goal. The absence of Sherring negatively impacted the defensive structure, but Cotterill remains focused on attacking football despite the challenges.
He acknowledged missed opportunities like an Isaac Hutchinson chance cleared off the line after a crucial penalty save by Joe, suggesting more composure is needed in the final third. Cotterill was critical of crossing quality despite using natural wingers, citing windy conditions but stressing the need to translate training into better matchday execution.
Cotterill also gave updates on injured players Scot Bennett and Arkell Jude-Boyd, saying both are progressing in their recoveries though not ready for immediate return. Despite the current difficulties, Cotterill affirmed his dedication: “It’s a tough gig, but I am all in and full on.”
Closing on a positive note towards the fans, he expressed gratitude for their support and a desire to soon offer results that make them proud. The Cheltenham boss knows the road ahead is challenging but remains fully committed to the fight.