Lambert - We Didn’t Give Ourselves A Chance

Paul Lambert has said we spurned too many chances to take the lead in today’s game against Spurs, and when we do that we will pay for it.

Speaking to the Official Site after the 2-0 loss, the gaffer said we missed ‘pivotal chances’ and ultimately that again cost us the game:

‘When you come to places like this, you have to take your chances. Their first goal was very fortunate, we had two chances beforehand. I said to him just then that you have to score at this level, Christian has to hit the target with his header, they were terrific chances. He’s only a young lad and he will learn every day but at this level you have to score.’

As for our general performance, ignoring the fold after their first goal until we found our head’s again, Lambert said short of taking our chances, he felt we played relatively well and were in the game competing for large periods of the match:

‘I thought we gave a very good account of ourselves. But, as I said, the big moments were when we had the chances to go one up, not once but twice. They were massive moments. I can’t fault the effort, that was there in abundance but we pick ourselves up and go again now. I am disappointed to lose but some of the things in the game were really pleasing.’

It’s a reasonably fair summation as for large parts of the game, although Spurs looked the more likely to take the game, there wasn’t really much better us in terms of clear cut chances until they went ahead.

Midfield has to be an issue that is addressed though, we aren’t balanced properly as we seem to be either too defensive or we go too gung ho and everybody will have their own opinions on whether Benteke or Gabby had done enough in the previous game to warrant starting again, especially over Bent after he scored.

It was the right choice after the City game I think, but not after the Albion performance and it’s disappointing because it was a game we could’ve again got something from.

Spurs Forum Thread.

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