Scott Parker had mixed emotions following a slender defeat to title challengers Manchester United on Wednesday night.
“I’m proud but also disappointed,” said our Head Coach. “The players are disappointed as well.
“We managed to get our nose in front tonight, but a mistake and then a 35-yard screamer from a world class player has defined the game.
“We had the first big chance of the second half and a couple of big chances after that and they need to go in the net for us, we need to take those chances.
“We haven’t managed to do that tonight; we probably haven’t managed to do that enough over the course of the last few games. It’s certainly an area where we need to get better and we will do that.”
It’s been a tough run of fixtures for Parker’s men, but our boss knows there’s been huge progress made by his team in this time.
“From the start of the season we saw where we needed to improve as a team and the players have worked relentlessly on the training field to do that,” he said. “We’ve given ourselves a platform in games and been more solid and now that box seems to have been ticked.
“We now need to look at the other side and how we can take our chances in big moments in games because I think that will be the difference for us.
“We come out of a run here of nine games from Leicester away to Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea, to a team that are going to fight for the Championship this year and went toe-to-toe with them.
"I’m very, very proud while also a little bit disappointed."
There was a slight mistake by Alphonse Areola for the Red Devils' equaliser, but Parker knows how much his 'keeper has brought to the side this campaign.
“Alphonse will be the first to hold his hands up and be disappointed with that,” admitted Parker. “But the character of the man means he comes back in the game and pulls off some big saves.
“He’s going to be vital for us this year and he’s already proven that. It was a mistake and they can happen.
“We’ll keep going, keep trying to improve and keep pushing on.”
Over recent weeks and in difficult circumstances there seems to have been a real tight bond formed in the squad, often praised for its fighting attitude, but Parker says there’s more to it than that.
“I don’t think this is just a team operating on spirit, desire and passion,” he stated. “I think you can see that in abundance in the team, but it’s also clear to see there’s some real quality in there, in how we’re going about our business.
“We have become more solid. This is a team that are fighting for their lives every game they go out there, but also having a real threat about us and that needs to continue.
“I’m very pleased in the way the team are moving, delighted in that sense.
“The fine margins of this division are those key moments which we’ve not been on the right end of and we need to improve there.”
Ademola Lookman thrived in a more central role, getting himself on the scoresheet with a cool finish after only five minutes, and Parker had plenty to say on his quality.
“We changed it up tonight in terms of Ade and got him central and I thought he was first class,” said our boss. “Obviously it worked to a tee with the first goal.
“He had a lot of time on his hands when he went through and his finishing was deadly.
“We’ve been trying to look at ways where we can get people in the right areas that can score the goals for us really and I thought that worked really well.
“I think everyone’s seen his quality in the short space of time he’s been with us, outstanding.
“He’s a player in this team that can score goals for us and that’s what we need, and he proved that tonight.”
