“It’s really important that we started picking up clean sheets” - Gloucester City assistant manager Marc McGregor on AFC Totton draw
With Gloucester City boss Mike Cook serving a touchline ban, assistant manager Marc McGregor was in charge of one of the most important matches of the season as AFC Totton visited Meadow Park.
The Tigers were on top during the first half and really should have taken their chances to gain the lead with the chances they created.
Totton bounced back in the second half to hold City off, with the game finishing goalless, but ending with the Tigers claiming a point against the second-placed side.
McGregor said: “It was always going to be a tough game, with the way they set up and the way they played I think they are more happy with a point than what we are.
“They’ve got a really good squad, they’re really together and that’s why they are second.
“It’s a bit of a shame that we couldn’t take the chances that we created to put the game to bed and claim all three points.”
Despite only claiming a point from today’s game, City recorded a third clean sheet in a row, producing another strong display at the back.
Keeping Totton quiet has been an impossible task so far this season, with the Tigers becoming the first and only side to stop Totton from scoring a single goal.
This performance shows that City are starting to make life a little easier for themselves, with more clean sheets meaning they don’t have to rely on scoring three-plus goals every match.
McGregor said: “We spoke inside that it’s really important that we started picking up clean sheets and take a little bit of pressure off having to score two or three.
“Bit of a shame that we didn’t take advantage of that with some goals, we had a really good chance in the first half with Brandon, a chance right at the end to score.
“We had six on target, they had one, on the balance of play we deserved it but second half we just didn’t do enough to create enough chances.”
Brandon Smalley came close a few times in the first half, and substitute Kieran Phillips had a header saved from very close range in the dying minutes.
City clearly had the better chances of the two sides but just were not able to capitalise on any of them.
For a side that is always affected by injury, the Tigers are coping very well.
McGregor said: “You have to give Totton a bit of credit, they changed at half time knowing that we were causing them a lot of problems.
“Going a little bit more direct and into our frontmen, and looking after the ball a bit better may have got us higher up the pitch.
“We’ve got players hanging on, Jared who’s playing with a sore quad, Ed who’s just coming back, Elis who put in a hell of a shift today, and the back four keep impressing.
“It’s disappointing that we can’t go and get a goal for the fans because that’s what they deserve, they were brilliant again today, let’s hope next week we can give them something to cheer.”
Gloucester City: J Thompson, Evans, Duffus, Richards-Everton, Ball, Dawson, Pinchard, Hanks (Emmett 77), Watts, Williams (Phillips 85), Smalley (Crosbie 72). Subs not used: C Thompson, Anaebonam.
AFC Totton: Gosney, Oastler, Kennedy, Magri, Seymour (Austin 66), Tomasso, Taylor, Tanner, Franklin, Lee (Rendell 65), McIntyre (Bennett 82). Subs not used: Carter, Hallett.
Attendance: 1,492.
