Was this a game too far?

It was tough, really tough, for us.

We’ve had a busy schedule and done really well in February but there were probably just one too many changes we had to make.

River was missing through work commitments, which we’d prepared for, but then we received a big blow with Matty Devine pulling out before we named the team.

We had to move Danny McKenna to full-back, and so we lose his attacking threat from a wide position in midfield, and changed formation as a result.

When the squad is small, those domino-effect changes are disruptive.

There was a sluggishness about Albion

Buxton were sharper than us.

We sat off them in the first-half, and gave them too much time and space when they had the ball.

Our goalkeeper was busier than theirs too.

We were tired – look how slowly we reacted to the rebound from the penalty – after playing with 10 men for more than half an hour in such a hard battle with Farsley [on Saturday].

Fatigue was a factor, and it took a toll.

At 1-0, the outcome was in doubt though

In the second-half we wanted to press them higher up the pitch and stop them from playing out so easily and we did that well.

Greg Hall wasn’t involved anywhere near as much either.

There was a chance here and there, like when the ball the post from a great James Foley delivery at a corner, but not enough.

The free-kick for their third goal was a fantastic strike, but I’m disappointed with the penalty.

It was a cheap foul that invited them to send a ball into our box, which is something that really frustrates you as a manager.

Should the referee have sent off Scott Sephton?

It was a foul, but not a red card.

I think the referee was right to book him, but if one of our lads had been sent of for that tackle then I’d have thought it was a harsh decision.

What was the message to the players after the final whistle?

I reminded them how far they’d come since the start of the month.

They’ve put in a shift time and again, and I’ll defend them on that.

It was just one of those nights when we’ve lost the battle and that can happen.

I think we’ve done so well to climb the table and get ourselves out of a dangerous situation towards the bottom.

It speaks volumes about some of these lads that they’ve gritted their teeth when they’ve had knocks or niggles and given so much.

How is everybody with one eye on Saturday?

We’ll have River back, which of course is a bonus and I thought that we missed his influence in defence.

Matty is suspended, so won’t play even if he’s passed fit.

Will Booth is waiting on the results of a scan on his knee injury, but the likelihood is that he won’t play again before the end of the season.