Cheltenham Town manager Steve Cotterill expressed his frustration after the 1-1 draw with Colchester United, feeling his side had done enough to secure all three points. Despite a sluggish start possibly influenced by a lengthy journey the previous day, Cotterill believed Cheltenham grew into the game and dominated much of the second half, creating numerous scoring opportunities but failing to convert them.
Reflecting on the match, Cotterill noted that Colchester’s goal was rather fortuitous, coming against the run of play following a couple of ricochets that allowed Payne to score. He was disappointed with the concession but confident that his team deserved to take home the win given their overall performance.
The penalty awarded to Cheltenham, confidently taken by Andi Weimann, was seen as unquestionable by Cotterill. Regarding the red card shown to Colchester, Cotterill agreed it was rightly given but suggested it may have inadvertently benefitted Colchester by allowing them to defend more compactly in the closing stages.
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Cotterill praised Joe Tomlinson’s performance on the right wing, highlighting his pace and work rate that tested Colchester’s defence throughout the match. The manager attributed the team’s fitness and endurance improvements to a tough pre-season regime aimed at reaching fatigue points, which he felt was evident in the second half.
He was cautiously optimistic about youngster Freddy Willcox’s progress, emphasising the need to manage expectations while acknowledging his promising development during pre-season and in match situations.
With two long away fixtures yielding four points, Cotterill recognised positives but remained focused on sharpening the team’s overall performance. Missing from the touchline due to suspension, he admitted it was challenging but appreciated the efforts of his players.
The manager also noted the benefit of recent continuity with the same starting lineup for three consecutive matches, aiding team familiarity, though he expected significant changes in the upcoming EFL Trophy match.
Finally, Cotterill reflected on the team’s ongoing goal-scoring form, being unbeaten and scoring in every League Two game so far this season. He downplayed the pressure to keep clean sheets, instead prioritising attacking football and goal scoring as key to the team’s success, expressing enjoyment in coaching the side to be prolific scorers even if it means occasionally conceding goals.