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Chances go begging

Simon Smedley
15/10/2008

AFTER being behind at half-time on Saturday at Southend, County rallied with an impressive second-half display and went on to preserve their unbeaten away league record thanks to Leon McSweeney’s wonder strike.

However, the Hatters failed to convert one of a number of late chances to win the game, particularly after the Shrimpers had been reduced to 10 men on 68 minutes when Dan Harding was shown a straight red card.

County boss Jim Gannon was disappointed that his side didn’t return home with maximum points.

He said: "I think we could easily have gone on and won the game.

"We had some great chances at the end.

"We looked a bit like boys against men in the first half, but in the second half we were able to get the ball down and release the good players to create more.

"If the lads had shown a bit more quality and control we could easily have gone on to win the game.

"In five games so far we’ve come from behind to get something out of the game, and we really should have gone on to win this one."

Gannon went on to salute point-saver McSweeney though.

He had found himself dropped to the bench after Gannon drafted in new boys Tony Kane and Jaroslaw Fojut, but barely a minute after coming on to replace Kane just past the hour mark, McSweeney smashed in a cracking equalising goal from all of 25 yards.

"What a response, and to be fair that’s 1-0 to Leon," said Gannon.

"We brought a few players in and he found himself left out and he reacted brilliantly.

"It was a tough one, but we don’t just need a good 11, we need players on the bench who can come on and make a difference.

"You know you’re always going to get 100 per cent from him.

"He is a lad with a great attitude and he responded in the perfect manner."

While Gannon’s opposite number Steve Tilson was angered by the referee’s decision to send Harding off for his foul on McSweeney, he did also credit his team for battling hard to hold the Hatters late on.

Tilson added: "I did fear the worst after the red card, but credit to the lads because they dug in and worked hard for the draw.

"Playing with 10 men made life very difficult for us, but in the circumstances I thought we did well.

"In the end it was a wonder goal from their player that stopped us getting the win and another three points."