Badshot Lea manager Gavin Smith post-South Park (Reigate)
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00:00Gav, 0-0 against South Park. Plenty of positives to build on there?
00:04Yeah, definitely. We know where we're going wrong and we've had a good chat about that
00:09in the change rooms and the fact we've kept a clean sheet is a real positive today. We've
00:14defended set-piece as well against, I could hear them talking, come on, they've got no-one
00:19over six foot and we've defended very, very well today. We've relied on Harry a little
00:24bit in the second half after being dominant in the first half. Definitely on top of the
00:30game, played how we wanted to play, created good opportunities and we're just half a yard
00:36from tapping the ball in the net. Didn't really test the keeper, if I'm honest, which is disappointing,
00:41but the opportunities were there to put the ball in the box, created great openings and
00:47they didn't really, I don't think they did anything first half. And then, listen, I don't
00:52think they improved second half. I think the first two, three things we did gave them
00:58a massive lift. Joe passed the ball straight to the centre-forward, Lasse gave the ball
01:01away. We just went out really lethargic and we said in there that two 45s are never the
01:06same, you've got to carry on the momentum. You give a team a little bit of a leg up,
01:10they're going to think they're doing well. And, listen, they put quite a bit of pressure
01:13on second half, we didn't really trouble them. I think we had a couple of good opportunities
01:18a shot, keepers made a save, we've probably hit one over when we could have scored. But
01:23in the end, we've held on, we've struggled and we've had injuries. Kai's come off, Adam's
01:27come off, Joseph's soldiered on with a broken toe, which is, I don't even know how the rest
01:33made that decision to be honest with you, but he's going to be out now. So we've picked
01:37up some injuries tonight, which is disappointing because we feel like we're getting somewhere
01:42in terms of performance. But it's an opportunity for someone else to come in now and show what
01:47they can do.
01:48As you say, in that first half, you got in plenty of good positions, the play was there,
01:52so yeah, plenty of work.
01:54Yeah, the play was really good, if I'm honest. And we're being patient, waiting for the right
01:59opportunity rather than forcing something, which I felt we forced a little bit second
02:02half, whether that's because we were desperate to try and get three points, maybe. But listen,
02:09the first half performance was good and we've got to build on that. We've got to be taking
02:13advantage of that dominance. And again, something to think about being clinical, it's two games
02:20without a goal now, but the fact we've not conceded tonight is good.
02:23At half-time, if you say, obviously South Park might try to raise it second half.
02:29Yeah, of course, because like I said earlier, no two half is ever the same. If you've been
02:34dominated or a team feels they're on top, the other team's always going to improve or
02:38you might take your foot off the pedal. You might think, oh, this was quite... because
02:41we... listen, I don't know, they pressed us to start with and then they let us have the
02:45ball a little bit, but we still found the spaces to create opportunities and they ain't
02:51going to do that second half. They rattled the lads a little bit, I think, a couple of
02:58challenges and yeah, got to, like I say, take advantage of that dominance and score.
03:05But I say, obviously, didn't get that goal, but then when they put on a bit of pressure,
03:10Harry obviously did stand up when needed.
03:13Yeah, of course, and that's what you need. You need players to put in that sort of performance.
03:18Because Harry doesn't get tested. I know we've been losing, but he ain't getting peppered
03:23and peppered and peppered and he doesn't make loads of saves, but he's made a great save
03:27first half, a couple in the second half and that's what he's there for. So good on him.
03:32Yeah, I would say he's a man of the match really tonight.
03:35A couple of injuries, obviously.
03:37Yeah, not good. Not good. Yeah, so there'll be a little bit we've had to leave people
03:41out. People have left out the squad. Cal's back off holiday. Campbell wasn't in the squad
03:45tonight. Freddie's been out the squad. Joe Lewis-Evans hopefully might be back training
03:50this week. So yeah, Jeremy came off as well with an injury at half-time. So yeah, not
03:57ideal.
03:58But as I say, plenty to build on and then looking forward to Uxbridge now on Saturday.
04:02Yeah, yeah. Adam's not available either Saturday, although he came off tonight. He's not available.
04:08So we're going to have to rely on the squad, keep doing what we're doing and hopefully
04:13get some points again on Saturday.