00:00 Scott, thank you for joining us.
00:03 Home game this weekend to look forward to against Harrogate Town.
00:05 Can I get your thoughts out of that one?
00:07 Yeah, tough game.
00:08 You know, they're quite good away from home, actually.
00:10 You know, they've picked up some really good results away from home.
00:12 So we know it's going to be a tough game.
00:13 I watched them yesterday,
00:16 Tuesday against Swindon, which was their last game.
00:20 And they played really, really well in that game and probably deserved more than what they got.
00:25 They drew the game, won all
00:28 and missed some big chances, but very, very good.
00:31 Very good on the day.
00:33 They passed it quite nicely, but they had kind of an energy about them, you know.
00:36 So Simon's got them playing really well at the moment.
00:40 So, yeah, we know it's going to be a tough game.
00:41 Yeah, and a very different game perhaps to the one at Barrow.
00:44 Obviously, we're hoping for better conditions, a better playing surface
00:47 and potentially a chance for us to sort of get back to playing the way we like to play.
00:50 Yeah, no, we like being at home anyway.
00:53 You know, the pitch is good here, obviously better than what we played on Saturday.
00:57 But it is what it is.
00:58 We've got to go to these places and we've got to play these games and can't moan about it.
01:02 We've just got to get on with it.
01:04 But no, we're pleased that we're at home and players are looking forward to it.
01:07 Yeah, and our home record is so impressive.
01:10 I think we figured it out the other day.
01:12 We've picked up points in 20 of our last 25 home fixtures,
01:15 which is up there with the best in the EFL.
01:17 Do you think there's any particular reason?
01:18 I know you've spoke to us before about how this is such a tough place to come.
01:22 You're near the pitch as players, you know, you're getting it from the fans.
01:25 Is there any particular reason you think we are so good at home?
01:28 Our crowd, you know, our crowd are brilliant at home.
01:31 I'm not saying they're not awake as they are.
01:32 They travel really well and make a lot of noise when we play away from home.
01:36 But the crowd at home are brilliant, you know, and it's a tight-knit ground.
01:42 As you say, the pitch is always good here.
01:45 You know, I remember coming here as the Swindon manager and found it a hard place to play.
01:50 And I've said that before.
01:51 It is a difficult place to come as an opposition manager and a team.
01:55 But no, it is just literally the crowd and the stadium and the pitch.
02:01 It all helps and we feel comfortable here.
02:03 You know, we do our meetings in our dressing room and we have a real kind of togetherness.
02:09 We just feel at home, you know, when we're at home, obviously.
02:12 You know, we just feel really comfortable here.
02:15 Whilst we know that our away form needs to be improved,
02:18 I still think that we've picked some valuable points up away from home at some tough places,
02:22 like we've mentioned before.
02:24 You know, Stockport, there's not many teams that are going to go there and get anything.
02:27 We got a point there and potentially could have come away with all three.
02:31 Walsall was a tough kind of game that night and we come away with a point.
02:37 Salford, not many teams are going to go there and get, you know, many points really.
02:42 And of course, Grimsby away was a good three points, you know.
02:47 We obviously want to improve on that, but know at home we've been brilliant.
02:52 It's a clear week in the build-up to this fixture, which is, I suppose,
02:55 exactly what you want after doing our longest journey of the season.
02:58 How's the squad come through the week as we prepare for the weekend?
03:01 Yeah, good. Unscathed, which is important.
03:04 So we've not got any more injuries to add to what we had anyway.
03:09 So that's important.
03:10 We've had a good week on the training ground.
03:12 We had a good meeting early part of the week,
03:15 which was always important to debrief the game and look at where we can improve.
03:18 So that was all positive in many ways.
03:21 So now we're in a good place.
03:23 The players seem to have a really good spirit about them.
03:27 And we're looking forward to the game on Saturday.
03:30 And finally for me, just some clarification.
03:33 I'm sure there's perfect reasoning that perhaps fans don't understand about the Wimbledon fixture being moved.
03:38 Could you give any more clarification as to why that was moved?
03:41 Yeah, I think, listen, there's a lot of games in quick succession over the Christmas period.
03:46 You know, there's a ridiculous amount of games in that small period.
03:53 And we felt that it would probably give the supporters a game under the lights,
04:01 which they enjoy and we know, giving them kind of probably a Saturday and Sunday to go do their shopping.
04:09 But also from a football point of view, the recovery side of things,
04:12 I think it was important that we had that extra day recovery going into the next game.
04:16 So that was the main thing from a football point of view.
04:19 Thanks Scott. Thank you.
04:21 It worked out better for me the Friday night, so thank you.
04:25 Going back to Saturday, don't want to linger on it too long,
04:28 but obviously you were very angry after the game about the refereeing performance.
04:32 What's that?
04:34 Where do you think we are with the standard of refereeing in League Two?
04:39 And do you think they should be accountable when there are big decisions that affect results of games?
04:45 Where do I think we are with this standard of refereeing?
04:47 I think that we're a way off where we want to be, for sure.
04:52 That's me just being honest.
04:53 I think that we're a way off where we need to be.
04:57 And I think most managers and probably governing kind of bodies,
05:02 you know, in the refereeing department side of things would probably agree.
05:08 I think we're not where we want to be.
05:12 However, we do realise that it's difficult to recruit and make sure that there's a good, healthy number coming through from a refereeing point of view.
05:23 So we know it's difficult.
05:26 But, you know, I think it needs to be improved, definitely.
05:29 And do there needs to be any accountability?
05:32 Yes, I think there probably does.
05:36 But we don't want to hit them with a stick.
05:38 You know, I think we have to be fair that we are human beings.
05:42 We all make mistakes and there does need to be some accountability for sure.
05:48 And I'm not sure there probably is at the moment.
05:50 Yeah, fair enough.
05:52 Looking at Haraket, you mentioned earlier that they're a good away from home.
05:55 What is it that you've seen that makes them good away from home?
05:58 I think they've just got a kind of good, real, a real good work ethic.
06:02 You know, you saw them, they've had some really good away results and I watched them at home against Swindon last Saturday, at length yesterday and Tuesday.
06:14 And I thought they were really good in the game.
06:16 I thought they would probably deserve to win the game, you know, on reflection with the chances that they had as well.
06:23 They had a real energy about them and pressed really hard and fast up the pitch and made it really difficult for Swindon.
06:31 Swindon couldn't get into the rhythm and they were very good on the day.
06:36 I thoroughly enjoyed watching them actually.
06:39 I thought they played with a real energy.
06:41 I think they've got that.
06:42 I think Simon's kind of created that work ethic amongst his team and, you know, they've done well and they've had some really good away victories.
06:50 So we know it's going to be a tough game.
06:52 Yeah.
06:52 And looking at the league table, you're five points off the playoffs.
06:56 On the flip side, 20th place is just five points below you.
06:59 I mean, is that just testament how tough this league is?
07:02 It does, but after 17 games, if I'd have said to you, we're going to be five points off the playoffs with a gaming hand,
07:13 we're going to be above Salford, MK Dons and Bradford and we're going to be on the same points as Swindon.
07:20 If I'd have said to you that at the start of the season, you'd have stamped my hand off, right?
07:24 Yeah, absolutely.
07:25 So, you know, we're doing great.
07:26 We're doing brilliant in actual fact.
07:29 I think that we're learning on the job.
07:34 Players are learning on the job.
07:36 You know, we've got some young players, some players who've come out of non-league, some players who was in the league,
07:42 but kind of third and fourth choice in their position at the club that they've come from.
07:48 And we've got to recognise that, that these players are kind of learning on the job.
07:52 And we're very much trying to win as many points as we can on a Saturday and a Tuesday.
07:57 And when we play, you know, it's important that we try and get as many points as we can.
08:03 So it is a results industry that we're in, but we're also trying to make these players better as we're doing it as well.
08:10 So, yeah, I think we're doing fantastically well.
08:16 Yeah, and looking at Saturday's game, injury wise, anyone missing from this week?
08:22 Just that Dion's probably again too soon.
08:25 Yeah, recovering really well.
08:28 He's going to be probably starting back out training with the lads around the 27th year, so next Monday, yeah.
08:37 And a quick word on Notts County on Tuesday night.
08:40 Tough trip, obviously, we know, but you performed well there in the FA Cup.
08:43 Are you confident going there again?
08:45 Yeah, I haven't really thought about it, obviously concentrating fully focused on Saturday's game.
08:50 But yeah, another one we'll look forward to.
08:53 You know, we played well there in the FA Cup.
08:57 Obviously didn't get the result we wanted, but no, we enjoyed that game and we'll be taking the positives from that when we prepare for that game.
09:04 Thanks, Scott. Thank you.
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