Liam Cooper Speaks About The Defeat At Rotherham

Liam Cooper talking to the official website said:'We weren't at it for the first 20 minutes, half an hour and then I think the first 10, 15 minutes of the second half.'

It's happened a few times the season were the team have started slowly, you can't afford to that especially in a local derby. You need to come out of the blocks firing and insert your authority and make it hard for the other team. They were lucky not to be 2 or 3 down after the first 20 minutes.

Cooper then says: 'We blocked shots, defended for our lives and you think it'll be our day but it wasn't to be and it was a rubbish result. We know from our point of view it's a sloppy goal to concede. If that didn't go in, apart from the first-half they never really created much. I think we're our own worst nightmare sometimes. I think we have got to start getting into the right habits and progressing to the end of the season now. '

It was difficult because the Spireites were under pressure for most of the game, and they failed to create much and keep the ball long enough to relieve the pressure. With the Spireites now 8 points off the play-offs it's going to difficult to catch that up and with Gillingham the league leaders at home next, it's not going to be easy.

Cooper then says:'Obviously we had a couple of chances at the end. We've had one disallowed at the end and the lads are disappointed, it was another bad day but we have got to pick ourselves up and try and get on that run that we need. The lads are down. It's hard to come away from a local derby and get beat 1-0. We have conceded a sloppy goal, the lads are down and rightly so, We'll be back in tomorrow, we'll pick ourselves up and prepare for next week. We can't keep doing this every week, looking back and saying what if, We've got to go out there and do it, it's down to us. It is a hard time, but we have got to pick ourselves up and look forward to next one.'

It sounds like this defeat as really hurt the team, which is a good thing it will make them stronger as a unit. If they can go out and perform like they can do, they could beat Gillingham. They have already showed this season what they are capable of, they went to Port Vale and won 2-0 and they beat Cheltenham at home 4-1. If they can beat Gillingham it would hopefully give them the belief and confidence to go on a winning run.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.