Chris Agutter felt his side earned a valuable point after a 1–1 draw away at Gateshead.
Dubem Eze’s first league goal with a little under ten minutes to go was enough to seal a point, having previously gone behind in the first half after Harry Chapman curled a brilliant strike beyond Jack Sims.
Facing a side revitalised under Rob Elliot, the Head Coach described the contest as a hard-fought encounter and was satisfied to leave with a result.
“It was a closely fought encounter. A big point for us,” he said.
“I do believe there are six-pointers and this was one of them. So to come away from today’s game with a point against a side that is much improved under Rob Elliot, who have been on a great run of late, we’ll definitely take it.”
“From our last four away games – Halifax, Hartlepool, Scunthorpe and now Gateshead – within a two-week period we’ve taken eight points.”
“That’s a fantastic return and it’s put us in a really good position with only a few games to go.”
Despite taking the point, Agutter admitted there was frustration over missed opportunities and the manner of the goal conceded, and those issues allowed Gateshead to create the opening goal before the interval.
“I think we should be one or two up,” he said.
“We’ve missed some unbelievable chances which is disappointing – really good chances. The goal we conceded is incredibly avoidable.”
“We didn’t get our press right in the first half. The front two are getting after it and the midfield are in a different postcode, which isn’t conducive to forcing turnovers.”
“That leads to them getting an opportunity around our box and we don’t defend our box well enough.”
“So we go in 1–0 down at half time after missing chances and conceding a very avoidable goal, which was very frustrating.”
“We took our foot off the gas a little bit from the Scunthorpe game again in that first half, so you can imagine what half time was like.”
The second half, however, saw a clear improvement in intensity and structure; Agutter praising the impact of his substitutes in helping the team build momentum.
“We were probably not as good on the ball in the second half but what we did do was run hard and commit to it.”
“The back line was higher, the midfield was closer to the front line and that allowed the forwards to apply proper pressure on the ball.
“That forced them into mistakes and into going longer, and athletically I think we’re stronger than them, so we started to dominate the first and second balls.”
“We started switching play more and having more of the football.”
“Coupled with the improved energy and intensity we built momentum towards the end of the game and deservedly got back on level terms.”
A notable inclusion saw Charlie Bell deployed as a makeshift left back until a hamstring injury sustained by Jake Taylor brought a league debut for Dan Urpens, a player who received plenty of praise from his boss, with his team selection being influenced by a number of defensive absences.
“We’re light at the back,” he said.
“Bes [Topallaj] is unavailable after becoming a dad – massive congratulations to him and his family again – and [Hayden] Muller isn’t 100 per cent fit either.
“So Belly did a job at left back and was very good. I mean he’s 18 years old and he’s some player.”
“Jack Taylor pulled out with a hamstring injury which meant he had to go back inside,” Chris said.
“Then Dan Urpens came on for his debut and, not getting carried away, that is one of the best debuts I’ve seen from a young defender.”
“To defend with that maturity and quality at 17 years old is outstanding. That’s a massive pat on the back for the academy.”
