Boss Kieran McKenna says the Blues aren’t in a position to be thinking about winning runs just the next win after Bristol Rovers frustrated his side to a 0-0 draw, a result which saw Town drop to fourth having won only four of their last 15 games and one in their last eight.

Town have now drawn 12 of their 31 matches, more than anyone else in the division and McKenna admits the stalemates, six in their last eight, are killing his team’s once promising season.

“Yes, there’s no doubt about it, we’ve drawn too many games,” he said. “It’s extremely frustrating for everybody.

“In isolation, it’s not a disaster of a result, it’s not an easy place to come on a Tuesday night, and not made easier by the way that they approached the game.

“But when you accumulate draws, each one feels really, really bad and it’s an extremely frustrating feeling tonight.

“But we just need to fight for the next win. You get that next win and everything looks a little bit different and you give yourself a chance to try and build on that.

“All we can do now is get ready for Saturday and fight to get the win to end this run of draws and look to build on that.”

"Asked what the issue is and why things are different to earlier in the season, he said: “I don’t think it’s ever one thing or it would be easy to fix. We’ve drawn games. When you don’t win, confidence can be affected because you’re not winning games as freely as you were, you’re not going into the game expecting to win the game as freely or individually you’re not at the same level of confidence.

“But it’s very fine margins. We could have scored in the first minute today, we had a couple of chances in the first couple of minutes of the game. If one of those goes in, the game is different.

“We had chances right until the last minute of the game, they defended en masse, they put their bodies on the line, they fought for a 0-0 and they got it.

“Those are the challenges ahead of us and we just need to keep fighting and get the first win and then make sure we keep the attitude consistent as it was tonight where I’ve got no complaints. Keep that attitude and look to fight for a result at a time.”

While Town’s progress is being held back by their draws, Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday and now Bolton ahead of them are continuing to grind out wins.

“We just have to focus on ourselves,” the Blues manager continued. “We need to try and win the next game. We’re not in a position to be talking about winning runs or points totals because we’ve drawn too many games.

“We need to win the next game and fight to win the next game after that. And when we’ve done that more consistently, then we can think about what other teams are doing.”

Is pressure playing a part? “I think it’s natural that everyone wants it really badly within the club, everyone around the club, players, supporters, everyone’s working hard. The supporters are here en masse, they’ve contributed greatly over the season.

“The players are giving a lot behind the scenes and working hard as well. And, of course, everyone wants to be successful at the end of the season.

“When you’re in a run where you’re drawing too many games, confidence isn’t as high as it was earlier in the season, but the only way to earn that back is through hard work. Hard work when we go back to the training ground, hard work on Saturday, fight to come out on the right side of the margins and then that confidence can still be restored again.”

McKenna made four changes to his starting line-up, which he says was in part due to fitness but also looking to add fresh legs with the game Town’s fourth in 11 days.

“I think there are a few we didn’t have options on, to be honest, it’s a quick turnaround from Saturday, it’s a long travel,” he said.

“Nathan [Broadhead] wasn’t fit to start the game, he had cramp in both his hamstrings on Saturday and was still feeling tight, so medically he was limited in what he could do tonight. And, of course, we’re trying to rotate and freshen a little bit in the forward positions.

“The players are all fighting and they all want to stake a claim to start lots and lots of games and that’s the challenge for them individually as well.”

Town once again were found wanting against a side employing a low block, a recurring theme throughout the season but increasingly so lately.

Town once again were found wanting against a side employing a low block, a recurring theme throughout the season but increasingly so latterly.

“That’s the challenge at the moment,” McKenna said when asked how he might find the answer. “We were playing tonight against one of the most attacking and aggressive and open teams in the league, who usually score a lot and concede a lot and their manager [Joey Barton], credit to him to his honesty, has apologised to me straight after the game for not being willing to give us a match tonight and not being willing to play their normal way.

“Credit that he has the self-awareness and the honesty to say that. I can understand from their position but that doesn’t help us that that’s, I don’t know if you want to call it the level of respect because we haven’t won enough games, but that’s the approach that teams are taking against us a little bit more lately.

“I felt that that might be the case after the Morecambe game where a team came and played open against us and we punished them in the first half [by scoring four times].

“I think we faced a completely different Bristol Rovers side than in any game I’ve seen from them this season and that shows why the manager ground out a clean sheet.

“That’s the challenge that we face, we can’t hide from it, we need to face it, we need to keep working to find solutions individually, we need to keep working to find solution tactically.

“I thought tonight we tried a lot of different ways. We tried to go longer into the front, we tried to cross it, we tried to go into feet, we tried to go behind, we tried to go early and aggressive with our substitutes.

“We had 15 shots from inside the penalty box and 21 shots in total and we didn’t managed to find a goal.

“Tonight it wasn’t enough and we need to just keep working to find solutions, but it’s certainly a challenge.”

McKenna admits that four wins in 15 in the league isn’t good enough: “No, there’s no getting away from that. We know that, it’s too many draws primarily. We haven’t lost many games. You can lose games but it’s too many draws.

“I think in isolation, a draw, 0-0 away from home on a Tuesday night when a team sets up like that against you and then have threats and goalscorers on the counter-attack and threats of goalscorers to come on, a draw isn’t a disaster.

“But in an accumulation of other draws where we really, really were disappointed not to get the points, things didn’t go our way in different circumstances and decisions didn’t go our way, then the accumulation makes it a really disappointing run.

“But these things can change. We’ve shown in the first half of the season that we can accumulate a lot of points. We showed in my time last year that we can accumulate points and put a run together.

“That’s not happening at the moment, but I still feel that we’re not far away from it. I feel like in general the performances and attitude haven’t been far away. I don’t think we were far away tonight, but, of course, the supporters don’t want to hear that at the moment because there’s frustration there. I understand that.

“From our point of view, we need to keep working, we need to keep working to find solutions, we need to keep the players’ confidence up because it’s not easy for them at the moment either.

“They desperately want to be successful as well and we need to stay strong and keep the confidence and the belief high enough to give us a good chance to win the next game and just build on that.”

Some of those fans are losing faith that Town can make the top two, but McKenna says that’s not something he’s personally reflecting on at present.

“We can’t control that,” he said. “My thoughts aren’t on that at the moment. We haven’t got the right to think or discuss that too much at the moment, in my opinion, because we’ve drawn too many games.

“We need to focus on getting the next win and if and when we get the win, we need to focus on getting the next one and we need to put some results together and then after that, we can talk and think about where we are. But for now, my focus can’t be anywhere past Saturday.”

He added: “I’m not thinking about [the table] at all, to be honest. That’s not shying away from our position, that’s being honest about when you haven’t won enough games like we haven’t.

“We can’t think about points totals, up, down, promotion or play-offs, we just need to fight to earn some results at the moment and if we can manage to do that, then we can look and assess where we’re at and what we need to do. But at the moment, it’s just needs to be the next game at a time.”

McKenna says George Edmundson and Massimo Luongo could be back in his squad for Saturday’s game against Forest Green Rovers, but that Lee Evans will remain absent with his knee injury.

"“Maybe George and Mass, possibly,” he said. “They weren’t ready for today, but we’re hoping that both will join in training on Thursday.

“Lee Evans no, but we’re hoping that the other two might be available for Saturday. Noting confirmed yet on Lee, to be honest, he’s seeing the specialist this week, I’m not sure exactly what day, so I should be able to update on Friday.”

Photo: Pagepix

SpiritOfJohn added 07:42 - Feb 15 I agree that all of the draws since November have cost us any chance of getting in the top two, as Plymouth and Wednesday won't drop many points. I also agree that it is incredibly frustrating. But I don't think that this is a time to despair or make a knee jerk reaction. Last Saturday we scored twice against the best defence in the league, and we also gave Burnley a run for their money over two matches, so there is no reason why we couldn't go on and win the play-offs. But we must turn things around and get on a good run before the end of the regular season to ensure we finish in the top 6 with some positive momentum.

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billys_boots added 07:50 - Feb 15 Agree with others that this is not good enough but also that it is progress from a year or two ago, and still very much a work in progress. We want entertaining football but Tippy tippy football is not entertaining if it doesn't go anywhere. Perhaps we are in a period of cementing our possession play but now desperately need to learn how to actually attack. Yes, one way to score goals is to pass the ball into the net but we need to be able to be less predictable and use other ways to score (and there are many ways, long targeted balls, loading a wing, running at opposition and going past players, set pieces, shooting in ways that maximise scoring and rebound chances, etc etc). The question is are the players not capable of this or is there no attacking coaching team that can build on the possession.

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Hamish1979 added 07:53 - Feb 15 That' second paragraph is incorrect, Lincoln have drawn more games than us.
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MickJ65 added 08:12 - Feb 15 Shooting practice Mr McK? Penalty practice Mr McK? Maybe with this we would have had 2 consecutive wins and we wouldn't have these frustrated posts. Football is in essence a simple game. If you score more goals than the opposition then you win the game. We play lovely football at times which can be great to watch but if we don't score then we won't win. I think I'm going to dig my boots out for Saturday !!!

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Stato added 08:14 - Feb 15 Nobody is calling him out on the garbage he comes out with. He says he went early and aggressive on his substitutes but how is the 58th minute early or aggressive. He hasn't made a half time substitution since he joined the club. Other than injury when has he ever made subs before the 60th minute ? He says Broadhead on bench forced upon him due to cramp but he took Chaplin off 15 mins before Broadhead Saturday and last night brought Chaplin on 15 minutes after the guy with cramp. I got 70 down likes when I said McKenna doesn't rate Chaplin our most subbed player and yet last night our leading goal scorer gets 15 minutes of football after 60 on Saturday. Aluko meanwhile has scored one league goal in 2 seasons. Neither Hirst or Broadhead tearing up trees and everyone has forgot the awards given to Chaplin by those outside the club who appreciate him more than his own manager and most of the supporters many of whom cry out for Aluko and recently Broadhead too but not many call out for Chappers.

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sospier added 08:22 - Feb 15 Far too many changes it just stops the momentum.Boss you may still be learning the trade but surely you can see how it upsets play..We need a massive win on Saturday to gain some respect and confidence for us wonderful supporters and of course the owners who I'm sure are getting very concerned with our rapid demise.You can do it K Mc so show us what your made of.We all want you to succeed.6-0 Saturday will help.

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HintBlue added 08:24 - Feb 15 I know I will get marked down on this, but feeling a little bit life of Brian (always look on the bright side of life and laugh at your situation), at this rate we should be singing: "We've got tinkerman Kieran McKenna, He can't make his mind up on the team, 13 in 10 games, team is never the same, We are forever stuck in this dire league"
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delias_cheesy_flaps added 08:42 - Feb 15 What a load of codswallop from KM about changing the side yet again for player fitness, he seems to forget he makes five substitutions to near enough the same players without fail every game!
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blueboy1981 added 08:59 - Feb 15 …. then do something about it McKenna - you're the Coach / Manager !
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ArnieM added 09:17 - Feb 15 …..“ not made easy by the way they approached the game”! Er, no Kerian, it's more down to the way WE approach games. Ditch this slow plod of a build up from The back through the ineffective Woolfie and Start play the game With a bit more pace, gusto and intent. Take some shots on goal, get to the by line and Cross the ball BACK across the area. Stop passing for passings sake!

5

londontractorboy57 added 09:27 - Feb 15 Mid table league 1 club that's what we are whereas we used to be a mid table championship club wonder what's gone wrong.
2

OliveR16 added 09:48 - Feb 15 Bolton don't appear to be operating with fine margins. Perhaps we could try to emulate them?
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inghamspur added 10:04 - Feb 15 Most of the problem is being caused by yourself, Mr McK. Why keep changing the team around for no apparent reason? These players want to play very game and don't need a rest. Why aren't the new signings getting a decent run of games? Baffling.
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ChrisFelix added 10:11 - Feb 15 Yet again a disjointed performance from a team not performing anywhere near their combined talent. Far too many changes & strange that none of the Jan signings started. Burns a pale comparison to last season & to start with Chaplin & other 'first choice players on the bench smacks of complacency. Also why do we keep signing injury prone players & sadly I have to include Evans here

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Lightningboy added 10:28 - Feb 15 "Fight for the next win"..? Yeah the trouble is we haven't won 2 in a row since October - couldn't believe that stat.
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idmcd added 11:10 - Feb 15 I just love all the people on here, with all their accumulated managerial experience, telling McKenna that he has none. McKenna is young and inexperienced, yes. Like all managers, he will learn with time and gain that experience. But should we give him that chance? Yes, at least until the board find someone who is clearly much better (and you won't find many of them coming down to League 1). That's football nowadays, and mostly always was. Even Man City spent fortunes for several seasons before they started to become successful. One season of big spending does NOT in itself make a team. It can help, but any success within three years of "the new approach" can only be looked on as a bonus, not a right.

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TimmyH added 11:12 - Feb 15 About time you sorted this out McK....we've supported the boys and you to the hilt, but we're just seeing the same things every season. Sort it!!!
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TimmyH added 11:20 - Feb 15 blues1 - bringing up the old Bobby Robson argument (now many times have we heard that over the years?)...and bringing Guardiola and Arteta into it as well not sure what you're argument is with them and what it relates to with this club in the third tier of English football? Guardiola has always managed big clubs before going to Man City and has close to a 75% win record and understudy Arteta going to Arsenal was never going to be far behind with success.

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Stato added 12:19 - Feb 15 Too many Town fans were way too quick to crown McKenna as some sort of genius from the same mould as Robson and Ramsay and it's been embarrassing reading some of the talk of McKenna having a statue outside the ground etc. McKenna has been given a massive player budget and massive support staff budget but isn't getting the best from this squad of players. He was a brave gamble by Ashton but the experiment has failed and Ashton should of taken decisive action immediately after last night's game.

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Nobbysnuts added 13:10 - Feb 15 No sh#t sherlock.....
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Gazelle added 18:03 - Feb 15 Team selection was poor yesterday but can anyone explain why we were excellent in both games against Burnley and in the second half against Sheffield Wed but put up awful performances against some of the Mickey Mouse sides.
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dannyrr added 21:34 - Feb 15 It's not the end of the world but it's just not good enough. It's probably why we won't get promoted this season. Goals are what win games not possession. We have scored goals but we've also given away so many soft goals. We never manage to kill off teams and most teams work the strategy - let Ipswich have possession for 25 minutes get one shot on goal and score then put 11 players behind the ball. Ipswich can't get through to the goal line. Stop the constant rotations. The new signings are supposed to make a difference but they can't if they're on the bench- if they're not good enough then why buy.

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