Neil Reynolds Remains Calm After Rylands' 5-0 Loss to Redcar

Neil Reynolds walked back into the Warrington Rylands technical area on Saturday after a four-game touchline ban and saw his side take their heaviest beating since promotion to the Northern Premier League.

He still walked away insisting this is no time to lose their heads.

Rylands were routed 5-0 at home by Redcar Athletic, a third defeat in five league games, but Reynolds framed it as exactly that: a brutal, collective off day.

“When people watch this interview, I don't want them to think I've lost my marbles but we just had an off day,” he told the club’s YouTube channel.

No hairdryer. No threats. No public shaming.

“There's nobody in my dressing room that needs to worry about being replaced or me calling them out.

“We had a horrendous off day and we all know that but as I've said to the lads, there's nothing we can do about it now. As a team – staff and players – we've had a bad day at the office.”

The scoreline underlined that. Rylands trailed only 1-0 at half time and were still in the contest, but the game unravelled after the break. By the midway point of the second half, Redcar had struck three more times, then added a late fifth to complete a stunning away performance.

“It shouldn't have been that scoreline given where we were at half time but unfortunately, information that we passed on just wasn't retained,” Reynolds said.

“We've been beaten by an exceptional side who have come here and done a job on us.”

For Reynolds, the response now matters more than the margin of defeat. His mind went straight back to last season.

“Around February-time last season, we went to Prescot and got beat 3-0 and after the game, we stayed in the dressing room. Barring our new players, everyone in that dressing room today was at Prescot that day.

“We had a bit of a conversation with some open and honest words and then went on an unbelievable run and were a penalty kick away from being promoted.”

That memory is his reference point. Another low, another chance to turn.

“If we respond positively – and that's putting a performance in at Workington on Tuesday night and then building on it against Alfreton – then we'll look back on this moment and know how it feels to be that low.

“We've got to learn from that – we've built that side and we've had an off day.”

The fixtures offer no time for sulking. A trip to Workington on Tuesday, Alfreton to follow. Three days to regroup, reset and prove that Redcar’s demolition was a jolt, not a trend.

“It's going to be a long three days until Tuesday – it's certainly a tough one, but there's no panic.”