Forest Green Rovers boss Steve Cotterill shocking admission after AFC Totton defeat

Forest Green Rovers boss Steve Cotterill described his side’s 2-1 defeat to AFC Totton as “a good wake-up call.”

 

“They have worked hard all pre-season, so we’re okay with it,” he said. “Sometimes a defeat like this can be beneficial, a good wake-up call. I’m alright with it.

 

“The lads are not happy with it, and a few of them have spoken up, which is good—it saves me from saying it all the time. Overall, we’ve had a really good pre-season, and this defeat won’t mean much going into next week. It might even give us a bit more of an edge.”

 

The hosts took the lead just before half-time, with former Forest Green Rovers player Scott Rendell opening the scoring. Cotterill commented on the set play that led to the goal: “The disappointment was our set plays. We have a few new players who seemed unsure of their responsibilities today.

 

“I think the first goal was a foul on Doidgey (Christian Doidge), but we’re going to face those situations. The second goal, from a corner, I actually thought should have been a goal-kick. We’ll tighten up a few things, especially on set-plays, which we haven’t focused on yet. I’m actually okay with that result.”

 

Rovers reduced the deficit in the 64th minute when Liam Sercombe scored his second goal in two games. Both Sercombe and Adam May played 65 minutes following setbacks during pre-season.

 

“It’s a case of building them up, seeing where we can get them to,” Cotterill said.

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