Joshua: Early Red Card Proved Decisive at Coleshill

Rugby Town manager Grant Joshua felt Saturday's defeat away at Coleshill Town was heavily shaped by an early sending off, admitting the decision left his side facing an uphill task for more than 70 minutes.

Town found themselves in a unique and difficult position just 19 minutes into the 0-3 defeat at Pack Meadow, with goalkeeper Charlie Woods dismissed and centre-back Josh Thomas forced to take his place between the posts.

"That’s the way it goes when your luck is out. We have to make our own luck over the next 14 games or so. Well done to Harry [Harris] and Coleshill today – it's their day and they did what they should do.

"It’s a unique situation to find yourselves in after 20 minutes, with your goalkeeper sent off and your centre-half in goal."

Joshua admitted he felt the decision itself was harsh and hugely influential, particularly so early in the game.

"I think we have grounds to feel really hard done by and Charlie especially. I’m not entirely sure there’s clear contact, I'm not convinced the attacker is definitely getting to the ball, and we've got covering defenders recovering as well.

When something like that happens so early in the game, it completely changes everything and really kills you as a contest."

Despite the setback, Joshua remained convinced his side were well placed to deliver another strong performance.

"I know the lads are downbeat, but they have to be as positive as me. Nobody can say how that game would have gone 11 v 11, or even 11 v 10 with a proper goalkeeper.

We came into it off the back of three good performances and I was very confident we would have delivered another display that would have got us a positive result.”

Joshua paid huge credit to Josh Thomas for stepping in goal for the remainder of the match.

"I have to take my hat off to Josh Thomas, who went in net for 75-plus minutes. He’s not had anything to do apart from saving a penalty.

"He put himself forward and that’s a completely selfless act for his teammates – I love him for that.”

Joshua felt the game had been evenly balanced prior to the dismissal.

"At 0–0 it felt like two good sides feeling each other out. There wasn’t much goalmouth action, but there was some decent football on show.

"After the red card we’re playing with one arm behind our back – not only down to ten men, but without a goalkeeper and with a centre-half in goal.”

Joshua was proud of how his players continued to compete: “I’m proud of the resilience these lads showed. We still carried a threat.

"Kobi’s effort off the post was a big moment – that was our chance to get our teeth into the game and really try to achieve a positive result.”

There was special praise for Caine Elliott’s performance in midfield: "Caine Elliott was the standout player on the pitch. The kid was levels above anything he was up against.

"He knows how much I value him – he’s the best all-round central midfield player in the league. He led by example and by performance, and we’re lucky to have him. If we have eleven who run like him, never mind his quality, we’ll be absolutely fine.”

Joshua finished by stressing belief and unity as the season enters a critical period.

“There are 39 points still to play for. I trust these boys and I put my name to them.

"It’s Coleshill’s day, not ours, and now is not the time to react emotionally. It’s a time to stick together with these young lads and trust they will come good – which they will.

"I’ll pick them up. We have 95 minutes on Tuesday to seize an opportunity.”

Joshua also thanked the travelling supporters. "The support today was incredible – real noise even in the difficult moments."