Stephen Clemence feels late Barrow concessions are ‘psychological’

Posted Sunday, November 10, 2024 by PA

Boss Stephen Clemence admitted Barrow must get better at seeing games out after a late 1-1 draw against Colchester.

It was the third league game in a row where the Bluebirds have conceded to draw in stoppage time.

This time it was experienced striker Lyle Taylor who grabbed the late leveller, cancelling out Elliot Newby’s first-half strike at Holker Street.

Clemence, whose side have won just one of their last eight League Two games, groaned: “Three times in the last four games we have let in goals after the 90th minute. It obviously can’t keep happening. It’s another hard one to take.

“It’s a psychological thing at the moment. We get to that 90th minute and we’re ahead and we’ve got to get over that barrier now and hang on. Or we’ve got to get the second goal.

“I think you’ve got to grind it out as a player. It’s mentality, it’s putting your head in where it hurts. It’s making sure you win your challenges, it’s getting there first, it’s making sure you do your bit for your team.

“A couple of games I’ve put on an extra defender to put us into a five and that hasn’t worked, I kept it as a four today and that hasn’t worked either.

“We’ve just got to make sure we work that little bit harder and are a bit more competitive the next time it happens.

“At times we were rushing clearances and just booting it to get rid of it. That’s not what we’re encouraging them to do, you’ve got to get the ball down and look for a pass.

“It’s difficult. I’ve been there as a player myself. It happens. It happens a lot at all levels where you’re a goal ahead and you drop back.”

For Colchester it was their third successive 1-1 draw on the road as they went a seventh league outing without a win.

But boss Danny Cowley hailed substitute Sam Tovide, who returned from injury to provide the assist for Taylor’s equaliser.

He said: “It was nothing more than we deserved. I thought we were really unlucky to be 1-0 down.

“Second half was all us really.

“There’s a lot of work that went into creating that moment. That’s the moment that everyone will be talking about.

“Sam was too powerful, too athletic for their backline. You’ve got to give the kid credit because he’s come back way before anyone of us expected him to.

“He came back in for the first time on Thursday. We call him a magic player because for him to come in and show that composure, wow.

“I don’t know how many assists he has this season but they’re mounting up.

“You don’t want that to fall to anyone other than Lyle. He’s keep calm in the upmost pressure.

“I don’t want to shout about Samson from the rooftops because the last time we did that we lost Bradley [Ihionvien] on deadline day. I’d love to keep Samson longer but I have a feeling that might be difficult.

“You can question elements of our game but you can’t question the spirit in the group.”