Neal vows to restore lost pride

NEAL TROTMAN . . . “we can do a lot better.”

FOR Neal Trotman, the midweek hammering at the hands of Southampton will have hurt just that little bit more than most.

The on-loan Athletic centre-back had his work cut out containing a rapid and rampant Saints strike force that tore the home team to shreds at Boundary Park.

Trotman (23) spent the first half of last season at the St Mary's Stadium on loan from Preston.

So while hands were shaken and pleasantries exchanged between the player and members of the Saints' travelling contingent at the end of 90 chastening minutes for the home team, the centre-back was left to reflect that Athletic could – and should – have done more to combat the threat.

"You could say it was a one-off," said Trotman, making his second start in his second spell with the club.

"But at half-time and full-time, we all came off the pitch knowing that we could have done a lot better.

"When you think like that, you know in the next game things can only get better.

"Southampton are a good team and I think that they will probably win the division.

"But we are a good side as well. We showed them too much respect and it turned out to be their day and not ours.

"They have got good technical players and (manager) Nigel Adkins has got them playing really well.

"But while you can give a lot of credit to them, I think it was down to us not performing."

Full-back Paul Black had spoken of the need to get 'into the faces' of Southampton from the off.

Instead, the visitors turned the tables and did the same job on Athletic.

Trotman felt that the poor start to the game, which featured an opening goal for the frighteningly talented 17-year-old Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after only nine minutes, made all the difference.

And all attentions will now be focused on another side from England's deep South — Plymouth Argyle — with Athletic trying to turn around an unwanted post-Christmas run of three defeats in four matches at Home Park this weekend.

"We didn't get off to a great start," added Trotman. "The goals could have been prevented and we shot ourselves in the foot a lot of the time.

"We just weren't at it, either collectively or individually.

"Don't get me wrong, Southampton played very well and they are a great side.

"But we showed them a lot of respect. We were a bit nervous at the start and they punished us for that.

"The early goal came and then the second while we were still trying to find our feet in the game.

"We can't focus on it too much. We have to look ahead to the game at Plymouth on Saturday and try to get a result from that.

"Every single one of the lads will want to put it right."