England hockey coach Bobby Crutchley believes that a poor first-half performance undermined his team's gold medal bid following a 4-1 defeat to Australia in the men's semi-final today.
Crutchley's side went into the break trailing their Aussie counterparts - who have won gold at every Commonwealth Games since 1998 - by two goals courtesy of Tristan White and Simon Orchard's efforts.
Harry Martin briefly reduced the deficit, but Chris Ciriello and Eddie Ockenden soon ensured that a bronze medal is the best that England can hope to return South with from Glasgow.
"In the first half we were a bit off it for too long and then in the second half we started to get ourselves up for the fight which is what we needed to do," he told reporters.
"Then it showed that we could actually compete and we put them under a bit of pressure but we needed to continue that as they came back at us and showed why they are such a good side.
"The problem is you have to play well against them throughout the whole game, they are a top side and are clinical if you give them a sniff."
Crutchley and co will face either New Zealand or India in their bronze-medal match tomorrow.
Shane Callaghan
