Paul Wotton: “It’s criminal game-management”

Torquay United manager Paul Wotton could not mask his frustration and annoyance after the Gulls squandered a 2-0 lead for the second time in a week.

United were given a perfect start at home to Boreham Wood, Jordan Young and Matt Jay hitting the net for a healthy advantage at the break, but the visitors came back strong after the break.

Abdul Abdulmalik pulled one back for the Wood on 82 minutes and the equaliser from Junior Dixon arrived in the final seconds of eight minutes of stoppage time.

After surrendering a 2-0 advantage to lose 3-2 at Chelmsford seven days earlier, this result was particularly hard to take for Wotton and his troops.

“It’s not frustration, just gutted for the fans, gutted for the players and it’s happening too many times,” he said. “We had chances in the last few minutes to kill the game off.

“It’s criminal game-management. We’ve worked on it but now Slough, Chelmsford, [Boreham Wood], it’s happening too often.

“We started the game in good fashion, scored two very good goals and a very good first-half performance. Boreham Wood brought on three attackers to add to the two they already had on the pitch and we changed shape.

“We got deeper and deeper, and I was screaming in the second half to ‘get up’.

“We’ve worked all week on decisions, when to play forward and when to keep the ball. The amount of times we gave the ball away in the second half was criminal really. Ultimately, that’s what has cost us because the boys were working tremendously hard, putting their bodies on the line and stopping crosses against a very good team.”

While there is no excusing the final outcome, the eight minutes of stoppage time did feel excessive and gave the Wood chances to lay siege on United’s goal.

However, from a Gulls’ perspective, it was that lack of game-management that left Wotton shaking his head in disappointment.

“I’m gutted for everyone that they equalise in the 98th minute.

“I didn’t think it [stoppage time] would be as long as it was, and I also didn’t think it was four minutes injury time in the first half, but that’s just an excuse.

“With three minutes to go, we had two chances to run the ball into the corner and run the game down. I just can’t believe we haven’t learned.

“It’s on me, game-management is an art and we need to start learning it very quick.

“We had experienced players on the pitch at the end: Cooke, Threlkeld, Jay, experienced boys out there. These boys have been about a bit and I’m sick to be honest.

“We’ve got to learn, there is no other option because we’re chucking away too many points.”