Adam calls on ‘professional pride’ after Blackpool loss
Adam Clayton pulled no punches when talking to the media after today’s disappointing 1-0 Sky Bet Championship defeat at Blackpool.
“I think that’s the worst we’ve played this season,” Clayton said of the first-half, when Ricardo Fuller netted a third minute goal that proved to be the match-winner.
“Individually and collectively we weren’t very good in the first-half and although the second-half was better, I don’t think we deserved anything today.
“The players here set themselves high standards and the Manager sets very high standards, so when you don’t meet them in the game you have to try and put things right and react.
“I thought the Manager was good at half-time; he tried to put things right, encouraged the young lads and asked for a reaction. I thought he got a bit of that in the second-half, but we never really looked like we would get back in the game.
“It’s a very tight pitch here and we couldn’t get our forwards in behind when they dropped off. Our game-plan was to do that, but we couldn’t get it going.”
With nine games left of the 2013/14 season and Town 12 points clear of the bottom three, the former Manchester City man explained that there is still a need to get points on the board.
“My professional pride is my overriding motivation – and I don’t think we’re clear of anything in any case. If we lose another couple of games, we could be back where we were last season and the players know that.
“If we needed a kick up the backside, today can be just that. We can’t continue to play like that for the rest of the season. We’ve got to show some pride and win some games.
“I’m not worried at all, but today should show everyone that we can’t cruise for the rest of the season. We could have theoretically gone 12th today and our ambition is still to get into the top 10.
“We have another game on Tuesday and we’ll go again.”
