Millennium Stadium Reaction

Last updated : 22 March 2004 By Robert Craven

'Tilly' was optimistic for the future
Shrimpers boss Tilson was happy to have got to Cardiff, but not so pleased with the early goal Blues conceded. “Obviously you come to win the game, we didn’t just want to turn up and make up the numbers. We’re disappointed because we have given such an early goal away, and looking on the video there it’s certainly offside, it just puts you on the back foot to go behind after a minute or a minute and thirty seconds, you know, you’re just chasing the game right from the start.”


However, the 37-year-old was pragmatic enough to concede that the better side won on the afternoon: “I felt that final bit of quality in the final third they had that we didn’t have today. We had a couple of decent chances that we never took and I think that was the big difference today, their front two and obviously Lee Bullock on the right, they had that little bit more quality than we did.”


“We ended up chasing the game right from the start”
, the Wickford-born boss commented, moaning, “and to be two yards offside and not see it is disappointing, but what can you do? You can’t turn back time, they’re not going to change their mind and the goal stands so you’ve got to get on with it which we did and the effort and commitment was there to see – we worked our socks off, but at the end of the day that little bit of quality shone through from them.”


“Basically we’ve just got to pick our heads up”
, Tilson explained, “because we’ve got nine League games and we need to win three out of them nine to basically stay up.” Looking towards the future he added, “We’ve showed a great team spirit and great togetherness lately over the last three or four months and we have lost one in twelve up to today and we need to carry that on and there’s no reason why we can’t stay up because there’s a great team spirit at the moment.”


The former left-sided midfielder also spoke of his future at Roots Hall, stating, “I think, touchwood, if we stay up the chairman will give me, hopefully, a long term contract with Paul [Brush] but we won’t know until the time comes. Once we stay up then I can go and see him. I’m enjoying it. Obviously I’m disappointed today but that’s football.”


And he left a message for the fantastic travelling support: “The fans were different class. I think 16,000 and what would have been nice just to score just to give them a lift. Obviously they’ve come all this way and we’ve lost two-nil, if we could just have scored them a goal it would have given them a big lift and I’m disappointed for them that they haven’t seen us score a goal today.”


Mark Gower also spoke to BBC Essex
Meanwhile, returning midfield playmaker Mark Gower echoed those sentiments. “The day’s been great. To see all them fans out there for us, and it’s nice to see. At the end of the day we wanted to come away winners and you come to a day like this and you want to win but, as I say, it’s been a good day but we wanted to come away winners but it was not to be.”

In explanation the Edmonton-born talent said, “I thought at half-time that despite everything that had gone on they were no better than us and we were unlucky with the first goal. Apparently it was offside. He [Tilson] said to us keep going, and all he can ask from us is to try their hardest. I think the boys tried their hardest and to can go away with our heads held high.”


But Gower too conceded that the Tangerines were of a slightly higher standard, “I think if you look at it in the end Blackpool deserved the victory today. We were restricted to long range efforts and maybe Leon had a good chance when they thought he was offside, maybe if that had gone in then something might have happened but I thought on the day the best team won.”


“The goals were at the start of both halves really and it’s hard to get over”
, Gower continued. “All the half-time team talk goes out the window with a goal straight after half-time and we never really recovered. At 1-0 you are always in the game but the second goal was a killer for us and it took all our energy really.”


Finally he spoke on his recent injury, “I took at little knock on my knee it was just from my fitness really after nothing for two weeks I felt it on the fitness side of the game today, so it wasn’t the ideal preparation but at the end of the day I was pleased to be out there.”


Seasiders gaffer Steve McMahon was in reflective mood. “It's been emotional today, especially for Mike Flynn. His mum died only 10 days ago and he's not long buried his mother and he's won a trophy with us on Mothers Day” said the former Liverpool legend. His pep-talk consisted of threats: “I keep preaching to the players it might be their last-ever final, so when you get there you've got to make sure you enjoy it.”


He finished up by saying, “I'm pleased for everyone and this feels even better than 2002 because the last time you win anything you always think it might be your last, so I'll enjoy this one along with the rest.”


And the man who netted that controversial opener, John Murphy, also spoke to the media. He explained, “We’ve been here three times now and won three times and obviously the feeling’s great. I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose but three appearances, three wins and I’m delighted really.”


With regards to the highly contentious goal he said, “I haven’t seen the replay. A few of the lads have said I looked a bit offside, I have to admit I thought I was a bit offside when the ball crossed the line, but if he hasn’t given it, we get on with the game and it’s 1-0 to us.”


However, he did have words of consolation, “To be fair to Southend in the first third they didn’t put a foot wrong but obviously Martin Bullock today was exceptional. I think their left-back will be having nightmares about him and every time he got the ball we looked like scoring. Second half we came out the block flying and got the other goal and it was a cushion really then.”


And, also looking to the future, he predicted, “I think the play-offs this year are a bit out of our each but the play-offs next year are our target. Steve McMahon has shown good faith in me and I’d have been sad to see him leave and I’m not really sure what went on but we’ve put all that behind us and we’ve got to keep on winning.”


Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com