Cheltenham Town manager Steve Cotterill shared his thoughts following a challenging 4-1 defeat at Crewe Alexandra, highlighting both the team’s struggles and promising developments.
Cotterill was candid about the three goals his side gifted through errors. “We gave the ball away three times, which really hurt us early on,” he explained. “We had control but kept turning over possession and were punished for it.” Despite these setbacks and tough windy conditions during the first 20 minutes, Cotterill praised Crewe for being a strong outfit and acknowledged that Cheltenham showed improvement compared to earlier in the season. “Although the scoreline doesn’t reflect it, we were the better team in the second half,” he stated.
After halftime, Cotterill made tactical adjustments by bringing on George Miller and Jake Bickerstaff up front and switching to a flexible formation that sometimes featured three at the back. This change sparked some positive moments, including a well-taken goal by Miller, marking a significant return from injury. “George’s finish was confident and clinical, exactly what you want from a striker in a one-on-one,” Cotterill commented proudly.
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The manager also acknowledged the challenges of frequently using loan players and the impact that multiple substitutions can have on defensive stability, which partly contributed to the fourth goal conceded. He indicated that decisions regarding loan players such as Hakeeb Adelakun, Isaac Hutchinson, Sam Sherring, Jake Bickerstaff, and Tommy Taylor will be reviewed in the coming days to ensure squad balance and regular playing time for all.
A heartfelt moment came as Cotterill organized a proper send-off for Ethon Archer, whose final game was met with a warm ovation from the fans. “Ethon has fought hard to get here and deserves the support," Cotterill said. “He’s a young player who’s done well for us, and I’ll be following his career closely.”
Looking ahead, Cotterill is cautiously optimistic about January transfer activity. “We’ll be steady on the incoming front but mindful of competition and recall clauses in loan deals,” he explained. Reflecting on the ups and downs of football, he remains confident that the team is on an upward trajectory. “If we keep playing with the spirit we showed today, good results will come.”