Defender Ashley Eastham says Fleetwood Town’s second half performance against Bristol Rovers was encouraging after slipping to a 3-1 defeat on Saturday.
First half goals from Stuart Sinclair and Billy Boden saw the hosts leading 2-0 at the break, before Devante Cole halved the deficit midway through the second half.
But Ellis Harrison’s goal ten minutes from time condemned the Cod Army to their first league defeat of the season.
“We’re all a little bit down as that’s not what we are as a team,” said Eastham.
“The performance wasn’t too bad but I think a few of us were just a little but naïve in our defending.
“Since the manager came in last year we have always been about being defensively solid as a team, but today we were a little exposed and reacted slow in certain situations.”
Eastham reserved praise for second half substitutions Ashley Hunter and Wes Burns, who both made a strong impact when on the field.
“I thought Ash and Wes were brilliant,” added Eastham.
“When they came on they exposed their tired legs but unfortunately we couldn’t get that second goal and we were punished with their goal near the end.”
Eastham’s eyes are now firmly fixed on Tuesday’s Checkatrade Trophy match with Leicester, and with the away game at Blackburn postponed next week, the defender says the squad are relishing the chance of extra work on the training field ahead of a busy September schedule
“This is a tough place to come but I’d liked to have been able to get something from the game.
“I thought we were going to in the second half but we look towards Tuesday in the cup and then our weekend off.”