King's Lynn 1-1 FC Halifax Town: "I'll take a point" says Town boss Wild

Debutant Lewis Mansell's second-half goal cancelled out fellow debutant Alex Kiwomya's first-half opener for the hosts.

"I thought we started well and should have been 1-0 up through Jeff (King) really early on, and then we were sloppy first-half, I thought we were poor first-half in the fact that we had all the ball but we didn't move it quick enough, there was no tempo to our play, they (KIng's Lynn) sat in, we tried to force the ball, we didn't play long enough, we didn't play quick enough, we didn't play sharp enough,"said Wild.

"We were susceptible to the counter because we were throwing that many men forward but then being wasteful with the ball, which left us open to the counter, and that's how they score.

"It's so frustrating because we're far better than that.

"We said we needed to raise the tempo at half-time, move the ball quicker, and I thought second-half they did, and I've just complimented them in there, I thought second-half we were excellent.

"We moved the ball quickly, sharply, we looked a constant threat.

"Our problem was that because we were throwing men forward it became like a basketball game, and we then gave them chances.

"I said to Milly with about 15 minutes to go 'it's going to be 2-1 either way this'. Both teams had chances to win the game and it was a really open game towards the end.

"I'll take a point, I think it's a good point on the road. Could have been three, could have been none, so we've got to say that's another good point and if we can back that up Tuesday night with three then it's been another good couple of games.

"If you get a point on the road it's no bad thing.

"We changed to a back four because when they were countering in the second-half, I thought they were going to hurt us, so we went to a four later on just to try and stop their counter and sustain attacks more in their half.

"All in all it's a good point I think."

On debutants Mansell and Jean Belehouane, Wild said: "They're two good lads. Obviously it was Jean's debut in men's football and I thought we got a good 65 minutes out of him, I was really pleased with that.

"I only brought him off because I wanted to change to a four, that was the only reason, and I thought it was a good start for him. He'll learn from that and only get better.

"Lewis, early on I thought he held the ball up well for us and linked, at times it didn't go his way but that'll come and the kid comes off with a goal.

"He's got to be pleased with that and he'll be a work in progress across the month.

"I think they're two good additions, two sound lads and I think they'll only add to the group."

Wild added on the two new signings: "With Clarkey nowhere near fit and Byrney suspended today, I just felt we were a little bit light at the back.

"I've got Jay Benn coming back in a couple of weeks but he'll need time to get back up to full speed.

"The deal was a great deal to do with Sheffield United, I want to have better links with the bigger clubs and it just seemed like a really good deal to do.

"Good experience for the lad and more numbers to our group in an area that I think we're a little bit light.

"With Mansell, we nearly only had one forward today with Belly going back.

"We are looking to strengthen in the forward area for the rest of the season but we don't want to jump at something that's not right.

"We've had about 500 names thrown at us in terms of centre-forwards but the one that comes in needs to be for the season, so that might be Lewis, he's in the hot-seat now, so if he does that job well, it'll be Lewis.

"We'll find out what happens with Billy (Chadwick) next week, we're not sure on Billy yet, so we just needed somebody to come in for a month initially, just to steady the ship and give us some forward options, with Jamie Allen only really allowed to do 20 minutes today.

"It just gives us another body in that area, a player I know can hold the ball up, I know can link play well and a player that I think, given a run of games, has got huge potential.

"It allows us a bit of thinking time to get that forward position right and to find out what happens with Billy."