December
Newsfile

Newsfile Archive

"I've got no excuses - it was my mistake. It was just a bad ball - I didn't hit it hard enough and the goal was down to me."

Alan Cork's thoughts were

"When you're closed down like that in the right-back area you only do one thing - clear the ball But everyone makes mistakes. Des is a nice boy and he's made a mistake. That's life but I pulled him off because we needed to change the game. We were chasing the game and I had to try and put people on up front to try and score a goal and get back in it. I said to Des that it wasn't the mistake but because we needed to change the situation. It's the FA Cup and there's no point losing 2-1. You've got to try and win the game 3-2. We missed a couple of players - Robert Earnshaw and Gavin Gordon up front - and hopefully they'll be back in the frame for the Brighton game. But the attitude of their players was good. They worked very hard and stopped us passing the ball. It's the first time that a Cardiff City team hasn't been able to pass the ball this season. I've told the boys that the FA Cup has come and gone. They've had their glory beating Leeds and that will always be a treasured moment for them. But let's be honest, we were never going to win the FA Cup. It would have been nice to get to the fifth or sixth round but the league's more important to us. We should be back at fullstrength at Brighton and we'll try to go there and get the three points. We're disappointed at the moment because we've been wellbeaten and that hasn't happened for a while. But you've got to give Tranmere credit because they worked hard and looked a good team. They've stopped us playing but people will remember the second goal because that ball should have been down the touchline."

Tranmere Chairman Lorraine Rogers view on Sam's departure

"He left a couple of minutes before half-time and we didn't see him again. The other directors were asking where he was. We wouldn't have objected to him sitting on the bench but I can't imagine what my manager's reaction would have been if I wanted to do that."

Graham Kavanagh gave his thoughts on the game

Collectively as a team we didn't perform. I'm just sorry for the fans because they've obviously paid good money and travelled a long way to see us. They were expecting a good result after the Leeds victory but it didn't happen - and I would just like to apologise for the performance. I don't think it was for the lack of effort because everyone tried and worked hard. But we didn't use our heads cleverly enough to combat their system. It wasn't our day and I'm disappointed for the supporters because they were fantastic again."