'A lot was said at half-time', admits Nolan, after 'way below par' first half against Plymouth
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who predicted a 3-0 Northampton victory at half-time of Saturday’s game against Plymouth Argyle, Kevin Nolan included.
Whilst not totally outplayed, Cobblers were second best for 45 minutes at Home Park and could count themselves a little fortunate to reach half-time on level terms after Bali Mumba and Lorent Tolaj both missed presentable chances.
The shot count – 11 to zero – reflected Plymouth’s superiority but that totally flipped in the second half as Nolan got into his players at the break. The visitors romped to victory, taking 12 shots to Plymouth’s three after half-time, with Tom Eaves, Elliott List and Jordan Willis all on target.
"There was a lot said at half-time because I thought we were way below par and way below where we should have been in the first half,” admitted Nolan. “We didn’t play at the standards that we have set for ourselves.
"We didn't really get going and I thought we looked like we were almost blinded by the lights but that is going to happen from time to time and what we were able to do was stay in the game.
"We kept going and we kept pushing and we were resilient to earn the right and bit by bit I thought we worked our way into the game and then we showed our quality in key moments and I was delighted with how we played in the second half.”
Nolan then made one of the best double substitutions in the history of football as Elliott List and Jordan Willis both came on and scored within five minutes, the former netting with his first touch of the game.
Nolan added: "We made the substitutions but my coaches didn't want me to do it! But I wanted to make the changes because I felt we could have got at them a bit more than we were and all of a sudden they both go and score.
"My staff have given me a bit of stick but nice stick – 'that's why you're the manger' sort of thing – but sometimes it works for you, sometimes it doesn't.
"But I'm pleased for our lads who have been on the bench because they are coming on and finishing games really well and really strongly. Listy had that big chance last week and he could have got us back to 2-2 against Cardiff. It didn’t work out but today he comes on and gets his rewards.
"I'm also delighted for Tom to get his goal and that's what we've worked on with him – getting him in the box and putting balls into the right areas. It's a fantastic header and I could see it was going in from where I was.”