Leam Richardson said he is not a ranter and raver – but it was no more ‘Mr Nice Guy’ after Saturday’s lacklustre loss to Wycombe.
The fledgling Reds boss has always said his management philosophy was more about talking things out and instructing and educating his players rather than raging.
But he admitted he found it hard to stay calm after the Wycombe defeat with some harsh words said in the changing room after.
Wanderers, at one point rock bottom of League Two, were there for the taking and the Reds needed to improve on their disappointing home form this season and start to climb back up the table.
But instead there may now be a few nervous glances over their shoulders after a third successive league defeat.
It looked like Wycombe wanted it more as the Reds struggled to contain them all over the pitch.
They conceded two soft goals inside 34 minutes which meant it was effectively game over for Richardson’s men.
Stanley did try to up their game after the break with Rommy Boco the main threat for the home side but really Jordan Archer, in goal for Wycombe, had little to do and that was even with Wanderers down to 10 men for all but 10 minutes of the second half.
It was a frank assessment by Richardson who knows he is going to have to use all his newly acquired managerial skills to pick out the right players in January to help transform his side into a team whose confidence is back and who can challenge in the top half at the table.
He knows, at the moment though, it’s not good enough in the league.
"It was poor, lacklustre, it was not enjoyable," said a downcast Richardson.
"That’s the worst we have been in a long time. Before I took over and after I took over, I can’t remember a performance much like that.
"We are a young set and we try to educate during the week but the damage was done in the first half.
"I never have a go at the lads when they apply themselves properly but they did not do that on Saturday.
"They know my feelings.
"No one intends to play badly and you are not entitled to play well every week but I won’t have that and I have told them in no uncertain terms.
"I have said a couple of things and told a couple of people (in the dressing room) and they know where they stand in a sense. A few people may not like it.
"I am sick of saying I am frustrated but we wanted a positive start and we fancied ourselves to win against Wycombe.
"They, though, have come and done a job and won and you have to credit them for that.
"But we did not stand up and be counted.
"The only player to come out of it with a bit of credit is Rommy Boco and I think a few people need to ask themselves some questions.
"Our crossing wasn’t good, our movement and our decision making wasn’t great all around the pitch and, even when they were down to 10 men, we couldn’t get out of that mode to change things."
Richardson sprung a few surprises naming debutant Bohan Dixon in the starting XI – with experienced striker James Beattie not in the squad – and teenage frontman Marcus Carver on the bench for the first time this season after a loan spell at Marine.
And Dixon calmed any nerves he may have had within the first 15 seconds by having a shot not far off the target.
However Stanley have struggled when they have gone behind this season and Stuart Lewis had a cross-cum-shot which deflected nicely for QPR loan winger Bruno Andrade at the far post and he made no mistake on 11 minutes to leave Stanley chasing the game.
The home side had half-chances with Luke Joyce having an effort blocked, Boco’s first-time cross just failing to reach Padraig Amond while captain Joyce – who had said he must shoot more last week – had another effort which was always rising.
However, Wycombe were pouring forwards in numbers and Matt McClure sent a strike just over.
However, he was then in the right place at the right time to pounce and make it 2-0 when Dean Morgan’s initial strike came back off the post.
Wycombe continued to press while there was a lot of huffing and puffing from Stanley and only on the stroke of half-time did they have any meaningful efforts.
Lee Molyneux’s free kick was just over and Boco forced a good low save out of keeper Archer – his first stop of the match.
The Reds were then offered a huge lifeline when McClure saw red following two quick bookings on 55 minutes which Chairboys’ player-boss Gareth Ainsworth admitted was more naive than malicious.
Then it was a case of waiting for the Reds to capitalise on their one-man advantage but it just didn’t happen for them.
Richardson made three substitutions in the hope one could create something, including Great Harwood-born Carver.
He had a big penalty shout after being grounded by Archer and there were plenty of goalmouth scrambles in the visitors’ box but it was just one of those days for the Reds.
When it did finally look like the net would at last bulge for Stanley, Molyneux could only find the side-netting and it was something of a relief when the final whistle went to end the home side’s misery.
Richardson had pinpointed this and next week’s home clash with Plymouth as games they needed to win.
With this one now gone, the Pilgrims clash takes on a new importance and Richardson will be looking for a reaction from all his squad.
"I changed it around on Saturday as you have got to be fair to people," said the Reds boss.
"They are coming in daily and having a go and you can’t keep doing what you are doing if you are not getting the results so I changed the personnel.
"The lads who came in did okay but as a group it was not good enough.
"We have got to question yourself, your staff but you also have to learn and move on and that’s what we will do."
