Cesar Peixoto bemoaned a slow first half which he believes cost his side, as the points were eventually shared with Portsmouth at Molineux.
The first 45 came and went without a shot on target for the Old Gold and, despite finally finding a breakthrough when Jordan James fired home, it was enough for only a point after Pompey struck late on.
The head coach called on his side to show more courage on the ball, and to also start showing a more clinical streak, which on another night would have turned one point into three.
On a frustrating evening
“It’s a result we don’t want because we really wanted to win the game. I think in the first half we played too slowly, moved the ball too slowly and didn’t find the spaces to attack. We played forward too often, which made it easy for them to defend against us.
“They stayed in a deep block and didn’t give us much space, but we needed more mobility and creativity on the ball. We needed to speed up the game at the right moments and create space in behind. I don’t think we did that well enough in the first half.
“In the second half, we were better. We created three or four chances to score, got our goal and played with more mobility, creativity and intent. We attacked the space better and were more incisive.”
On not holding on
“I think we managed the game well until we conceded from a set-piece second ball. They cleared the first ball, the only shot they had inside the box, and scored. After that, we tried to push forward with our hearts rather than our brains, but we didn’t have much time to do a lot.
“But in the first half, we were too slow. In the second half, we controlled the game better, although we still lacked the creativity and mobility I want to see from our team.”
On the need for courage
“Sometimes, the players are afraid to take risks in one-on-one situations and are a little insecure. I think there was some anxiety about playing at home in front of our supporters after the defeat against Bolton.
“I spoke to the players and told them we have to play with courage, as we normally do and as we work during the week. If things go wrong, it’s my responsibility, not theirs. I want them to feel free of that pressure. The second half was better, but we scored and then conceded from their only shot inside the box. We have to be disappointed with the result, even if it’s one point.”
On not killing the game off
“We scored and were managing the game, but we dropped a little deeper than I wanted. I wanted us to keep pushing forward, playing in the same way and trying to find the second goal. I think the players were also tired in the final minutes. They wanted to win so much that they pushed us further back than I would have liked.
“Portsmouth scored from a second ball, something we’ve seen happen in games before. It was disappointing because we were in control, but that’s football.
“Portsmouth also took a lot of time to restart the game, and they delayed things throughout the second half. I haven’t seen the images, so I can’t be sure, but I don’t know if it was a penalty on Mane either. However, I don’t want to talk about the referee.
“We are capable of doing better, particularly in the first half. We tried in the second, but it’s difficult when the opposition have all 11 players defending deep around the edge of the box. You need more mobility and intensity on the ball, and you need to move it quicker to create opportunities to score more goals. Today, we scored only once and conceded a late equaliser. We are disappointed, but it’s one point.”
On the need to stick together
“We have to stay together. The Championship is a long journey, and we all have to stick together: the players, myself and the staff.
“We want to win, but sometimes we don’t take the right risks. We have to play with courage and trust ourselves to play as we normally do. I feel the players are sometimes held back by anxiety during games, but we have to find a solution.
“We have to believe in the players. They have done well in the past, and I’m sure they will do well again in the future. Only by staying together can we fight for the next game and get back to winning ways.”
