Manager Keith Hill’s post-match reaction to his side’s New Year’s Day defeat to Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium…
“It wasn’t a very good performance,” said Hill.
“For us to get off to the start that we did and in the manner that we did is not a reflection of the players’ capabilities, so I’m disappointed.
“As a group of players and manager, you either fight or accept your fate. I’ve been in this position, where we’ve been heavily beaten, as a player and as a manager and you’re looking for a response. You’re looking for a response from the players on the pitch to work things out and to make sure it doesn’t get worse, but unfortunately it can sometimes get worse before it gets better in that game.
“What happens now is up to me and the players to sort out, and I hope they’ve got the mettle to do it because it can be difficult when you’ve just been beaten like that.
“Doncaster are a good side but I thought we were very poor today. I’m here as the figure head and as the manager and I select the side, but the players have to make sure that they perform better than that individually.
“There were one or two who I thought gave it a real go, but you’re looking for the players to remember that they’re football players and to take care of the ball when we’ve got it and score goals, and defend when they opponents have got it but there wasn’t enough of that today.
“It’s up to me and the players to try and galvanise ourselves to fight again for Saturday’s game.”
He continued: “We’ve lost six points [over the Christmas period] but we’ve got to now start maximising our opportunities over the next 20 games. It’s broke at this moment in time, but, trust me, it’s fixable.
“If you keep looking deep and you keep looking for a number of solutions, you’ll never find it. You’ve got to try and come up with right permutation within the squad of players that we’ve got. We did last season from a worst position than we’re in now. We had 22 points and were rock bottom at this time in the season having just lost our fourth game on the bounce.
“I’m very mindful of the situation that we’re in. It’s going to difficult, which it always is, but we won’t run away from that fight. We’re prepared to do the hard miles.
“I’m optimistic and I’m also a bit deflated with the two results, but when you underline them, regardless of the goals – yes, there are things that have to be put right, but it’s six points that we’ve lost and we’re eight points up on last season, so we’re a little bit in advance of ourselves on the board in terms of the league. I understand it doesn’t look great and there is a little bit of inconsistency, but you have to find solutions and that’s what we intend to do.”
Watch the full interview on iFollow.