Mulhern assesses derby defeat

Mick Mulhern gave his thoughts on Saturday’s derby defeat at Hillheads “I was disappointed we didn’t respond as I’d have expected after the excellent performance at Ryhope on Tuesday night. It’s a lack of consistency that’s been our problem all season, we take one big step forward then one back.
“In the first half it was a game of few chances. I was quite happy with the shape but nothing much was created and there wasn’t much in it. In the second half I didn’t think we had enough possession, we were not tidy enough, making one or two passes then it was breaking down. It wasn’t good and it’s what we need to improve on. It wasn’t as fluid as the previous game at Ryhope and more was asked for in the second half.
“Of course it doesn’t help when you have to make changes so early in the game and injuries meant that two had to be made by half time. Kieran (one of the substitutes) almost got off to a flier when he hit that shot off the post, and it went across and outside the other post. If that one goes in, that does change the game straightaway because you’re in the ascendency, you then can dictate how you want to play the game. You know then that North Shields are going to come on to you and leave more space behind them.
“Then of course it’s only a few minutes later that McRoberts had the shot and Luke (Taylor) does what all good defenders do and tries to deal with the problem but he could only help it in the net and now the game has certainly changed. We had another great chance when Kevin Carr turned and hit the ball instinctively, which is fair enough but it went straight at the keeper when a yard or so either side and it would have been a goal. It was a big chance to get back in the game at 1-1 and you’d probably take that in the conditions which got horrendous in the closing stages.
“It was 1-0 for a period of time, were competing, but they were winning more than us and I thought they were a bit stronger than us which is disappointing. When we went in for challenges they were winning more than we were. We were giving the ball away and couldn’t get the combinations going and they kept coming at us, but I suppose the most disappointing thing was what happened in the last few minutes, the second goal quickly followed by the third. We didn’t defend as resolutely as I’d expect and we gave them a couple of goals which certainly flattered them. North Shields deserved to win, they were better than us in the closing stages but I don’t think anyone could say it was a 3-0 game.”
Given the atrocious conditions, the pitch coped well and didn’t cut up at all, as might have been feared. Mick commented “I think the pitch has been great this season, as have a lot of pitches because of the good summer we had. Obviously the pitch is being well looked after and we’re getting to Christmas with a decent pitch. It certainly helps with the way want to play football, on the ground, so long may it hold up.”