Baraclough admits changes must be made at Portsmouth
HINDSIGHT is a luxury not afforded to football managers.
If it was, Scunthorpe United boss Ian Baraclough would not have utilised the same starting XI at Bristol City as he had in the previous two league encounters.
-
SHAKE-UP: Abdisalam Ibrahim (left) replaces Mark Duffy at Bristol City, as Scunthorpe boss Ian Baraclough (centre) stuck with an unchanged starting line-up. Picture: Carl Gac.
Two wins and a draw had seen momentum gather.
But that quickly evaporated as a lacklustre United lost 2-0 in timid fashion.
For Baraclough, it was an opportunity for priceless points which passed his side by.
"What concerns me most is that Bristol City went into the game on the back of four defeats at home, and we travelled home saying they were no great shakes," commented the Iron boss after witnessing his side pass the seven hour mark without a goal on the road.
"We failed to consistently break them down and create too many chances.
"That is a concern to me, that on the day we have been beaten by an average side.
"Should I have changed it? That is something I have got to look at.
"The squad has now got to come to the fore and certainly I have got to look at making a few changes.
"That's probably what will happen (tomorrow, against Portsmouth)."
A below-par display saw no signs of the fighting spirit shown when the Iron came from 2-0 down to beat Sheffield United.
It was that lack of belief which had Scunthorpe on a hiding to nothing at Ashton Gate.
"I have always maintained we have got enough in the squad to be able to battle out of situations," continued Baraclough.
"We came from 2-0 down the other day (against the Blades).
"But I asked them after Saturday's game, did we really believe we could come back when we were 1-0 down?
"Two-nil down at Bristol City compared to 2-0 down against Sheffield United, what's the difference?
"The difference was against Sheffield United we showed we had the belief to get back into it, whereas on Saturday we seemed to lack that.
"If we had had a little bit more belief in our play and tidied up our passing, I think we could have come away with something.
"If we had passed the ball with any sort of tempo, or quality, then I think we would have seen a different game.
"That was the crucial thing for me, we didn't pass the ball, on a nice pitch, anywhere near well enough.
"But the performance didn't really merit coming away with anything in the end."
3 Comments
by 1500club, Lincs
Monday, February 28 2011, 3:50PM
“The difference in being two down at Bristol, as opposed to Sheff U was that Sheff U were gifted two goals and were the worst side to visit GP in a decade.
A few loan signings hardly cover the clubs inactivity in the summer...you wont any of that cash invested in the team or the ground either.
Up the Iron!”
by nicho, scunnie
Monday, February 28 2011, 11:36AM
“surely after 3 home games in the space of 6 days, and hinting after the sheff u game that changes were needed due to fatigue, barra should have made those changes. i know the old addage dont change a winnig team goes well but anyone there on tuesday evening saw how tired all the players were.
changes were needed to freshen us up. ibrahim looks a decent player in the middle of the park and hughes is totally wasted playing wide in midfield. if we carry on not playing the likes of ibrahim, and other loan signings we will get to the same situation as this year next year, players and teams not wanting to loan players to us!!!!
j wright has letthe game pass him by for the last three outings and has not done enough!!!
come on barra change things a little tomorrow otherwise there will only be one outcome against a somewhat struggling outfit, another heavy loss!!!”
by ExPat Iron, Somerset
Monday, February 28 2011, 11:17AM
“So much for our 'character' & new dessing room spirit that was being talked about last week. I still think our biggest problem is that the team doesn't have enough spirit nor a belief in themselves ... & that must come from the manager.”