Gaz: I had to get a performance out of them
8:07pm Saturday 5th January 2013 in Latest Sport By Andy Carswell
Gaz: I had to get a performance out of them
GARETH Ainsworth said he was pleased with the second half reaction from his players, having read them the riot act at half time.
Wanderers went in level at half time against Chesterfield thanks to Kortney Hause scoring an injury time equaliser, but that did nothing to lift Ainsworth’s dark mood after a poor performance and he gave them both barrels in a bid to give them a kick start.
It worked as Blues put in a vastly improved display to win the game 2-1, and although he was annoyed at the first half performance Ainsworth was pleased his players reacted to his half time hairdryer treatment.
The Blues boss sounded hoarse during his post match press conference and he said: “The voice has gone so you can probably sum up for yourselves it was a pretty harsh one. You have to do that sometimes. I have standards and they have to be met.
“For 44 minutes we didn’t turn up today and I told the lads. That’s the second time I’ve had to lose it with them – that’s been my most forceful team talk yet at half time.
“I had to get a performance out of them second half because first half we didn’t turn up at all. That wasn’t us.
“I was disappointed with the first half but second half we did it right and we rightfully got the three points.”
Ainsworth admitted there was a slight hangover from the New Year’s Day game against Exeter City, where Wanderers also struggled to get going and needed a half time boot up the backside.
He said: “The week’s training has been tough – the training ground’s a bit boggy – and the Exeter result, whether we felt we were a bit hard done by and should have got something out of it – maybe it’s a fallout from that. But that’s all put to bed now with the three points.
“I’m so pleased with the reaction we got for the second half and I’m so pleased for Jo Kuffour getting a goal.”
Ainsworth said the second half display by his team underlined just how important it is to perform for the full 90 minutes rather than in fits and starts.
Asked what he said to his players after the game, the Blues boss said: “I said don’t tell me it’s not there inside you, because you’ve just shown me there the reaction.
“I love every one of my players and I know what they can give me, so nobody can tell me they can’t run, they can’t work.
“They work when the ball’s at their feet but it’s the running off the ball sometimes you have to get right, and we got it right second half. I was so pleased - to have a reaction like that was very important.”
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