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Wilkins: The Fine Detail Cost Us

Posted on: Sun 09 Mar 2008

By Tim Dudding

Albion boss Dean Wilkins felt his side switched off at key moments in the 2-0 defeat at Carlisle, and has warned his players that attention to detail can be the difference between victory and defeat.

He said, "The couple of moments when we switched off cost us massively.

"I think the higher that you go and the better the opposition that you play, the more it is the finer detail of your preparation that either lets you down or wins you the game, and that has definitely been the case today.

"The first goal was incredibly frustrating. It was a quick free kick and the way that it has ended up in the back of the net is so untidy. Even up to that point we had two or three fantastic chances to go in front but we failed to capitalise on that.

"One of the things we said was about set-plays against us, and that it is not just the first ball that you are competing for, but you also have to stay with your man for the second ball because there is still movement in and around the penalty area. We failed to do that today."

Wilkins was also frustrated that Albion let so many golden opportunities slip through their fingers, but insists he will still take positives from the game.

"I thought that we had the best chances in the first half and we made their keeper work a lot more than Michel. Although they got crosses into the box we were one-on-one with the keeper again and we failed to score.

"I felt that if we had got our noses in front then we would have taken the game. We felt so confident before the game about them coming on to us and our front two causing their central defenders problems.

"We have to take the positives from that and be pleased that we created the chances but the finer detail let us down. Having watched every goal that Carlisle have scored and conceded this season, based on the information that we gave the players before the match I felt that we had a real chance of upsetting them and actually winning the game.

"It is the finer detail when you are playing against the better sides that makes the big difference. Whether it costs us a play-off place remains to be seen. If we don't learn from this then yes it will, but if we do then no it certainly won't."

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