Never look down after going up, would probably coach be the essence of St. Ann’s Rangers head coach Anthony Streete training talk this week following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against W Connection.
Rangers enjoyed a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute through a strike from distance by pre-season signing Mikhail Awai in the Round One Match Day One of the 2011-2012 Digicel Pro League Championship match at the Ato Boldon but went on to concede a goals in the 45th (Jerrel Britto) and 72nd (Joevin Jones) minutes.
“Somewhere along the lines we broke down in our tactics and when we scored the (opening) goal we relieved the pressure and start playing the ball back too much,” explained Streete following the game.
“And that’s where W Connection capitalized on us. Also one of goals was a major blunder by my defence.”
“We would learn from our mistakes,” continued the Rangers coach. “We saw where we need to work on. I also still need one or two players to come into the team. It’s a young bunch and I expect we will get there by the third game.”
Streete praised Connection and coach Stuart Charles Fevrier adding, “I would give W Connection’s young bunch credit.
“They played attacking and kept structure in playing to game plan and again I would say that Stuart Charles Fevrier is a great coach—one of the best in the country and the (Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation) needs to watch at that and give him the opportunity.
“I love playing against W Connection and what I tried to have my guys play, was constructive football.”
Streete also commented on a failed penalty strike by captain Errol Mc Farlane on the hour mark which would have given Rangers the advantage.
“As the leader… as the skipper… as the man that takes our penalties even before he left Rangers last season, it was just a missed penalty like we see at World Cups and bigger games. It’s just that this time, it hurt us.”
He turned on a positive note in praise of pre-season midfield acquisition Trent Noel saying, “Trent Noel is a leader and the only reason he didn’t wear the armband is because I wanted to give a St. Ann’s man the band. But I’m grateful to have a player like Trent and coming down people would see a good amount of football from Rangers.”
“This was a wake up call for us,” said a disappointed McFarlane. “It’s really unfortunate as well that as captain of the team I didn’t put away the penalty.
“Being honest with myself, I think I need to put in a lot more work than I did (Friday). And that’s because the responsibility is heavy on my head to bring in the goals for the club.
McFarlane said that it’s unfortunate that his side failed to pick up three points.
“I don’t think we should drop our heads now. We are a new bunch of guys and it’s our first game. As more game comes, our match fitness will get better. I think we can only regroup and come again for our next contest.”