Bad To Worse For Derry

Manager Shaun Derry has said we deserved to lose to MK Dons last night following a poor and embarrassing defensive display during the 90 minutes.

Having been hammered by Rotherham, but the players showing a good reaction in the Leyton Orient game, the last thing we’d have wanted to do last night was gift Dons two soft and sloppy goals, but such is life that’s exactly what we did.

Speaking to the Official Site Derry was clearly not happy again, as presumably he sees us still taking one step forward and then one giant step back.

‘It was absolute school boy defending all over the pitch and we gave goals away. You look at the decisions they make in terms of how consistent they were and how inconsistent we are. That’s why we are where we are because to go from Saturday to this just baffles me.’

The biggest disappointment for Derry having previously made some strides in performance style and consistency even if results were always reflecting that, the last few games leave him with no alternative but to say we are now again no different to where we were when he took the job on, so all the hard work and effort has been for nothing so far.

‘Nothing’s changed, it’s the same fundamental errors every time we go on the pitch. One day we spring a surprise and play how we want to play, how I want them to play, and things go well. Then we just can’t back the performances up and it’s a major problem.’

The gaffer goes on to say that what the club needs ultimately is an injection of pride, but the only people capable of doing that are the players themselves and until they really believe they are good enough and belong, and have that self belief and confidence things won’t change, because it is ultimately that which is holding us back.

Too many players are presumably beaten before the whistle goes and they are then getting the results and performances they expect to get, instead of going out there believing it doesn’t have to be that way.

Derry even goes on to say that if the players could replicate the pride other staff at the club have – and I guess he doesn’t just mean coaching staff here – things would be different.

Unfortunately…

‘We’re looking at the guys and saying ‘we’re relying on you’ and they need to surprise me on Saturday, because I’m questioning them – massively.’