IT FELT like Groundhog Day for Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury as he fronted the media to explain another game lost due to wasted chances and poor ball use.
He said the Magpies were not only playing the game in spurts, they were not making the opposition pay on the scoreboard when they did have momentum.
Despite 66 inside 50s to Essendon's 43, Collingwood kicked 11.16 (82) to Essendon's 15.10 (100).
"We have got to capitalise on that dominance and if you don't it comes back to hurt you and we got hurt again today," Pendlebury said.
The skipper – who has been quieter than usual in the past two rounds – said it was frustrating to be telling the same story after losses for two consecutive weeks.
"I feel like I am in the same situation I was last week. We're working on the stuff that is killing us but it is not happening quick enough," Pendlebury said.
Five talking points: Essendon v Collingwood
Collingwood was second last in the AFL for letting the opposition score from turnovers and did little to address the problem against the Bombers, who opened them up through the middle of the ground.
He said it was a lack of skill and decision-making in key moments that caused problems.
The challenge for the Magpies now was to show enough resilience to keep playing their brand of footy to ensure that fixing the current problems made the difference.
"We have got to be mentally strong enough to keep playing our brand of footy regardless of what the scoreboard says," Pendlebury said.
He admitted the team was flat after four losses in five games but said the five-day turnaround would be a major positive as it gave the group a chance to turn the situation around quickly.
