Bristol Rovers’ caretaker manager, Andy Mangan, expressed his deep disappointment following his team’s 1-1 draw against Leyton Orient at the Memorial Stadium in League One. The Gas had initially taken the lead just before halftime with a superb goal from Grant Ward, placing the ball into the bottom corner, leaving Leyton Orient’s Sol Brynn helpless.
However, the visitors managed to equalize in injury time when Tristan Crama inadvertently headed the ball into his own net from a free-kick.
Despite the draw, Mangan couldn’t help but express pride in his team’s performance but lamented the missed opportunity for three points. “I’m devastated for them because it should be three points,” he stated, acknowledging the frustration of conceding a late own goal that denied them a victory. Mangan, although deflated at the final whistle, emphasized the need to move on from the disappointment.
The draw positioned Bristol Rovers in the 11th spot in the League One table, trailing nine points behind the playoff positions. Mangan acknowledged the frustration of the situation, particularly the team’s deepening defensive stance in the latter stages of the game. “I’m gutted for the lads, we just kept getting deeper and deeper,” he remarked, highlighting the challenges they faced in holding on to the lead.
Despite leading for most of the second half, Mangan expressed deep frustration that his team couldn’t secure the win. He recognized the need for improvement, stating, “We still need to be better, even if we were to see it out for three points.” Responding to criticisms about the substitutions not being attacking enough, Mangan defended his choices, highlighting the positive impact of bringing on John Marquis and Aaron Collins to increase attacking pressure.
The caretaker boss acknowledged the challenging six weeks for the players, marked by uncertainty about the coaching staff’s future. He noted the players’ nervousness amid the ongoing situation and commended their dedication to performing well for the staff. Despite a tough week with a previous defeat at Derby County, Mangan expressed pride in his players’ efforts, describing them as “amazing” and highlighting their determination to see the coaching staff stay.
In conclusion, Mangan acknowledged the challenges of winter matches and the imperative to close out games when in the lead.
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