WILTSHIRE-BASED Team GB coach Stuart Pearce adopted philosophical stance as the men's team began their Olympic Games campaign with a 1-1 draw against Senegal at Old Trafford.

Pearce, who lives in Shalbourne near Marlborough, saw Britain take the lead through Craig Bellamy's first-half strike.

But the British return to the men's football tournament for the first time since 1960 turned flat when Moussa Konate struck eight minutes from time.

Team GB players were unhappy about the African side's physical approach, which left Bellamy and Swansea's Joe Allen nursing injuries.

Britain were also unhappy that they were denied what looked a clear-cut penalty in the second half when Bellamy was fouled.

A phlegmatic Pearce said: "I am not sure whether it (the foul on Bellamy) was in the box, but it was a foul.

"The referee didn't think it was. That is all that matters."

He added: "It would have been nice to win the game.

"There were one or two nervous faces in the dressing room before the match.

"Some elements of our play were very good, but there are others, including our movement of the ball, that we need to work on."

GB now face UAE at Wembley on Sunday knowing victory is essential to their hopes of reaching the last eight.

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