I just want the lads to understand me better – Grant McCann after Doncaster win

By Sports Desk November 28, 2023

Grant McCann will focus on ensuring his messages are getting through to his Doncaster players loud and clear after being left frustrated with aspects of their performance in the win over Colchester.

A Tom Smith own goal and efforts from Mo Faal and Joe Ironside saw Rovers to a 3-1 triumph.

While pleased with the result, McCann felt his side did not heed his instructions to push for more goals after each occasion when they found the net.

“We got the first goal and then we just sat back a bit again,” he said. “It’s something we need to get to the bottom of.

“I spoke to the group and said if it’s something I’ve said, I’d hold my hands up but doing that is not something that’s coming out of my mouth.

“After the first goal, we let Colchester come on to us for a five minute spell and Joe Taylor nearly scored before he actually got the equaliser.

“We made it hard for ourselves but I said to the lads at half-time that if we score the next one, we have to keep going and get more. You have to keep the foot down but we sat off again and Colchester had chances.

“It’s not too much of a dig at the lads because on the whole I thought we were good and it’s a good response to losing in the last minute at Crewe.

“But I just want the lads to understand me better. They have to push themselves up the pitch because we speak about it all the time – scoring and scoring again.”

Joe Taylor netted an equaliser for Colchester before the break but the visitors offered little in the way of real threat in the second half.

Head coach Matt Etherington was bitterly disappointed with United’s performance.

He said: “It wasn’t good enough in the second half and it was probably the worst 45 minutes of football since I’ve come into the role.

“It’s really disappointing. The players kept going until the end and had a couple of chances but we didn’t deserve to win it with that second-half performance.

“Two set-pieces again – players not picking their man up from the second phase. Ultimately those two set-pieces have cost us the game.

“You’re always facing an uphill battle when you’re conceding goals from set-pieces on a regular basis so it’s something that we’re addressing. It’s obviously still not getting addressed properly because we’re conceding goals and we’ll have to have a word about that and a look at the set-up.

“The set-up hasn’t changed throughout the season and it was good early on. Teams will notice that we’re susceptible to set-pieces and we need to do something about it.”

Related items

  • Mexico boss Aguirre struck by beer can after Honduras defeat Mexico boss Aguirre struck by beer can after Honduras defeat

    Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was left bloodied after he was struck with a beer can in the aftermath of El Tri's 2-0 CONCACAF Nations League defeat to Honduras.

    The can was thrown from the stands and struck Aguirre as he approached Honduras coach Reinaldo Rueda for a post-match handshake on Friday.

    Celtic winger Luis Palma came off the bench to score both Honduras goals as they seized a 2-0 lead in the teams' quarter-final tie, which will be settled in Toluca on Tuesday.

    CONCACAF has said it will investigate the incident, which Aguirre was unwilling to speak about after the match.

    "They deserved to win, they were better than us in al areas, I've got nothing left but to congratulate them, and well, to try to lift my team's spirit," said Aguirre.

    "The other thing, there's no point in even mentioning it because, well it's football, I'm not one to complain. Their fans made us feel very welcome."

    Honduras boss Rueda, meanwhile, said the incident had overshadowed an impressive victory for his team.

    "I'm sad because he's a human being. They hit the coach, that can't happen," said Rueda.

  • Uruguay's last-gasp win over Colombia will 'bring everyone closer', says Bielsa Uruguay's last-gasp win over Colombia will 'bring everyone closer', says Bielsa

    Marcelo Bielsa believes Uruguay's memorable 3-2 win over Colombia in World Cup Qualifying, secured by Manuel Ugarte's 101st-minute strike, will "bring everyone closer".

    Former Leeds United boss Bielsa had found himself under pressure, with La Celeste going five matches without victory since finishing third at the Copa America.

    However, they climbed to second in the CONMEBOL qualification group – ahead of Colombia on goal difference – by edging a five-goal thriller in Montevideo.

    Andres Gomez's 96th-minute strike had appeared to salvage a point for Colombia, but Ugarte volleyed home following a knock-down from Facundo Pellistri mere moments after Uruguay had kicked off again.

    Speaking after the dramatic finale, Bielsa said: "Victories like today are healing in the sense that they bring everyone closer, around a feeling as strong as Uruguay's connection with the national team. 

    "It was a very exciting match, and the players' determination to secure the win was evident.

    "They have a well-oiled style of play; they defend, press, manage the ball, and have individual brilliance, which makes them a tough rival to beat.

    "It's not easy to win against this opponent, as they have physically gifted, technically proficient players across all positions, many of whom can change the game's dynamics."

    Next up, Uruguay face Brazil, with the Selecao languishing in fourth after they played out a frustrating 1-1 draw with Venezuela on Thursday.

    Bielsa, however, is under no illusions regarding the magnitude of the task awaiting his team in Salvador on Tuesday.

    "If Colombia is an athletically strong team with an offensively capable system that creates danger and has organisation in possession, Brazil has that and more," he said. 

    "We will try to control the ball in their half and not ours. Sometimes we succeed, and sometimes we don't, like against Venezuela."

  • Amorim wants Man Utd players to be inspired by club's history Amorim wants Man Utd players to be inspired by club's history

    Ruben Amorim wants his Manchester United players to be inspired by the club's history as he bids to bring a winning mentality back to Old Trafford. 

    Amorim, taking over at the Premier League club following the departure of Erik ten Hag, was speaking in his first interview with the club after a tour of their home venue. 

    The Portuguese tactician had visited Old Trafford earlier in the week and met a group of supporters, as well as the women's team's vice-captain, England star Ella Toone.

    "When you come [to Old Trafford], it's so different. You see the trophies, you see the tragedy that we have as a club. The history," said Amorim. 

    The 39-year-old added the manner in which the club defied the odds to succeed under Matt Busby after the Munich air disaster in 1958 should be a particular source of inspiration.

    "This kind of strength, I think it's important to put in our team. When the players come here, they should take the stadium tour all the time. I think this is very important to do," Amorim said. 

    "It's normal if you go a lot of years without winning, you start losing that feeling. So I think we need to put all the players doing the same thing, to regain that feeling.

    "We haven't won the Premier League for a long time. But if you ask, United is the biggest club in England.

    "So this is part of history, it is not now. So we have to address that, to show that and to try to win again."

    Asked what his footballing philosophy is, the former midfielder said it all comes down to being a team. 

    "The team is the most important thing for me. And if you work as a team, then the talent individually is going to shine," he said. 

    "But if I have to explain the importance of everything, it is the character, the way we fight, the way we play, and we must have an identity.

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.