McParland: Notts must keep believing
NOTTS County cannot afford to lose their self-belief, boss Ian McParland said today.
The Magpies slipped to their fifth defeat in six games in League Two against leaders Wycombe Wanderers at Meadow Lane last night.
McParland was disappointed with the way his side conceded two goals in the second half, and with their tame attempt to stage a fight-back.
But he believes they can take heart from their first half performance.
He said: "It was a bit cat and mouse, but we were well in the game.
"I thought we were better than them in the first half.
"At half-time I told the players to stay patient and not to make any silly mistakes.
"But we shot ourselves in the foot and when it went 1-0 it gave us a mountain to climb, because they don't concede many goals.
"We gave it away on the half-way line and they broke. We went to ground in the box and it got whipped across and put in."
Spence decisively doubled the visitors' lead with a spectacular free kick after Matt Harrold's opener.
McParland said: "I felt we could have done more when it was 1-0 to get that equaliser.
"It was a great free-kick, but apart from that they didn't create a lot of chances, even though they were better than us in the second half.
"The second goal killed us a bit but that is when we need to roll our sleeves up and go out and express ourselves
"Everybody expected us to get beaten. But I didn't, so it's disappointing."
McParland said injuries to key players are having a big impact at the minute.
Myles Weston, Matt Hamshaw and Michael Johnson were all out last night, but McParland hopes Weston will be fit to face Kettering in the FA Cup on Saturday.
3 Comments
by Billy, Derby
Wednesday, November 26 2008, 4:05PM
“As a red it gives me no pleasure to see what is happening across the Trent but it does suggest why he didnt get the Forest job. Hope it picks up for you lads, think we are a lost cause!”
by steve, kimberley
Wednesday, November 26 2008, 1:41PM
“I would agree that Notts second half performance was poor, but Charlie is right, in the first half they did match Wycombe and, if anything were probably the better side. The stitching holding this patchwork team soon came apart in the second period though.
I'm sure we will have a reserve team next year, infact I understand that the league entry has already been submitted.
We're not going to get investment any time soon, so we've got to make do with what we've got. As for management, we might get a more experiennced manager, but not one with the same potential and passion for the club.
It's not so long since Notts were as good as dead and buried and last season the atmosphere in the ground suggested that the wake was still in progress.
A lot has changed in the last 12 months and there is a lot to come.”
by john, Notts
Wednesday, November 26 2008, 11:37AM
“What planet is McParland on?
Notts were poor from start to finish and not one of our players came out with any credit from this game!
This was a walk in the park for a Wycombe side that were made to look better than they are by an innept,clueless,spineless, and boring Notts team who most folk would have thought they would come out fighting after the thrashing at Dagenham?
Heads went down to easily!
No direction or a leader in our team!
Our players body language suggested they never really believed they had a chance against Wycombe who to be honest aren't that special!
Just over 2500 supporters turned up last night to watch possibly the worst Notts team ever to wear them famous black and white stripes!
We need investment in quality players!
We need an experienced manager!
We need a reserve team so players are faced with competition and are dropped when poor!
I think McParland needs a reality check because our players just didn't show up last night or against Dagenham!”