'WE DIDN'T DO ENOUGH' SAYS BRUCE
Posted on: Sat 16 May 2009
Gaffer admits that Stoke deserved the win
By Paul Chialton
Steve Bruce conceded that Wigan were beaten by the better side in their 2-0 defeat to Stoke.
Speaking after the game Bruce admitted that although his side were denied a penalty in the first-half, ultimately they didn't do enough to earn a result:
"I think they (Stoke) had the cutting-edge today and it was one of those games where the first goal was always going to settle it.
"We did have a disputed penalty in the first-half but overall I don't think we did enough going forward and got punished at the other end.
"We needed something like a penalty or free-kick because we've lost our cutting-edge lately which has been disappointing.
"We had four or five chances to clear the ball for their first goal. But in Ricardo Fuller Stoke have a decent striker who made the difference today, and overall I think the better side won."
Bruce went on to say that in light of Wigan's lull in form during the second-half of the season he does shoulder some of the blame but is eager to rectify the matter come the start of next season:
"We got to 41 points and out mentality changed. I sensed it happening and I have to take some of the blame myself because I couldn't stop it from happening.
"I can understand why it happens because when you look back over the previous years Wigan have only stayed up in the final weeks of the season.
"We had a chance to have an amazing season but unfortunately it's drifted away from us.
"The changes in January have hurt us and it's been difficult since then but it doesn't excuse how we performed in the second-half today.
"So I'll take that into consideration, address the matter and look at where we need to improve in the summer. "
By Paul Chialton
Steve Bruce conceded that Wigan were beaten by the better side in their 2-0 defeat to Stoke.
Speaking after the game Bruce admitted that although his side were denied a penalty in the first-half, ultimately they didn't do enough to earn a result:
"I think they (Stoke) had the cutting-edge today and it was one of those games where the first goal was always going to settle it.
"We did have a disputed penalty in the first-half but overall I don't think we did enough going forward and got punished at the other end.
"We needed something like a penalty or free-kick because we've lost our cutting-edge lately which has been disappointing.
"We had four or five chances to clear the ball for their first goal. But in Ricardo Fuller Stoke have a decent striker who made the difference today, and overall I think the better side won."
Bruce went on to say that in light of Wigan's lull in form during the second-half of the season he does shoulder some of the blame but is eager to rectify the matter come the start of next season:
"We got to 41 points and out mentality changed. I sensed it happening and I have to take some of the blame myself because I couldn't stop it from happening.
"I can understand why it happens because when you look back over the previous years Wigan have only stayed up in the final weeks of the season.
"We had a chance to have an amazing season but unfortunately it's drifted away from us.
"The changes in January have hurt us and it's been difficult since then but it doesn't excuse how we performed in the second-half today.
"So I'll take that into consideration, address the matter and look at where we need to improve in the summer. "
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