‘We’re giving soft goals away’

Paul Cook gave his thoughts on the disappointing 3-2 home defeat against Dagenham & Redbridge.

Dagenham took the lead in the fourth minute when the ball fell favourably to Junior Morias at the back post, who slotted past Lucas Covolan.

Dagenham doubled their lead in the 17th minute. Following a quick counterattack, Morias crossed the ball in from the right-hand side and Paul McCallum was alert inside the box to finish the chance.

Dagenham made it three in the 45th minute. Morias cut in from the right-hand side and shot at Covolan, who parried it out to the feet of McCallum who had an easy tap in to make it three.

Branden Horton pulled a goal back for the Spireites in the 55th minute with a fantastic strike from around 25 yards which flew into the bottom corner.

Tyrone Williams added another goal for the Spireites in stoppage with a header, following a cross form the right-hand side.

Cook said: “We’re giving soft goals away, aren’t we? We can dress up whatever we want to dress up, at the minute we’re giving soft goals away and when you’re giving soft goals away, you’ll struggle to win football matches.

“We don’t come under pressure in games, we’re not defending our box or heading it off the line or kicking it out. 

“We are just really susceptible for switching off and making some really poor decisions in possession of the ball further up the pitch.

“They are a good set of lads who work hard, they really are, there’s nobody in there that’s hard to manage or hard work etc. But tonight, we made some really naïve mistakes. 

“A spirited fightback which we expect, it’s just disappointing that we didn’t get the second goal with a bit longer left.

“I think the referee had a good game, but I was really disappointed with the time added on.”