Mark Jackson: We weren’t clinical

Mark Jackson: We weren’t clinical

U23s head coach on Leicester defeat.

Mark Jackson gave his thoughts to the media after his side were beaten for the first time away from home this season, in Premier League 2 Division One.

A young Whites side put in a battling display at the King Power Stadium and created plenty of chances throughout, but were punished when Leicester scored a second half winner.  

“We created loads of chances created in the first half, we just weren't clinical in the final third,” Jackson explained, when discussing the match.

“I still thought we were a little bit open at times as well, for a period of the first half it was kind of us attack, they attack, and I challenged the boys to better in the second half at that.

“We did create the chances, we weren't clinical in the first half and it come back to bite us, really. They got the goal and then kind of sat in, had a game-plan and tried to frustrate us.  

“We tried to break them down and we just didn't have that cutting edge in the final third, that little bit of quality to break through their defence tonight.”

As well as the 100 per-cent record being ended on their travels, it was also the first league match in which Jackson’s side have failed to score this season. 

He said: “The higher you go in football, you'll get punished if you don't take your chances. 

“The pleasing thing from us is our attacking play in the first half. It was good enough to create that amount of chances. 

“Yes, we've got to be better at finishing, it will be frustrating for the boys but there's a lot of young players in that squad. 

“I think we finished the game today with four under-18s on the pitch and an under-16 so it goes to show the strength we have coming underneath from the 18s. 

“Certain elements of that performance we can be pleased with, and there's certain elements, as always, that we can get better at.”

X