00:00Can you give us your thoughts on the game against Rotherham?
00:05Another good challenge for us. Rotherham are a very good team, very direct obviously.
00:14They're very good in terms of balls in the box and probably actually their league position
00:21doesn't show how well they've played this year and the chances they've created.
00:26They should be a lot higher than they are. We know it's going to be a really tough game
00:30but one we're looking forward to. We've built a little bit of momentum, sort of been solid
00:36over the last few games. It's just another game to try and attack and make sure that
00:41we carry on and keep moving forward, keep progressing, keep the process going and looking
00:49forward to playing at home as well.
00:51We had a really good performance didn't we against Bristol Rovers the last time out.
00:54I suppose the lads will be looking to channel lots of those positives into this game?
00:58Yes, definitely. When we did the review I think the chances that we gave up in the first
01:0410-15 minutes were all of our own doing really in terms of us not being as switched on in
01:10the first 15 and fair play to Bristol Rovers because they started well.
01:14I think once we got through that we controlled the game and dominated.
01:18Obviously we just need to push on to get the goal but we've done a bit of work this week
01:23on that in terms of getting them all in the box, final third entries etc.
01:28Again, it's really pleasing because the finger-writing of the lads are starting to come to fruition
01:33but we still need to keep adding and adding. But no, pleased overall.
01:37Like you say, it's just a nice little bit of momentum we're gathering but we can't take
01:42it for granted because, again, the Rovers are a very good team at a big club.
01:47It must have been nice to have a full week on the training ground.
01:50Or has it been a mixture because I suppose after so many games there's an element of
01:54you want to get some real time at the training ground but also you want to give the lads
01:57some rest as well because we've had so many games recently.
01:59Yes, exactly that. It's the balance between rest and recovery and training.
02:04We had a real hard session Tuesday which was good and we'll obviously probably have more
02:07of a tactical day today and then obviously a build-up tomorrow for the game on Saturday.
02:13Yes, it's just trying to get the balance right at the moment because we are thin.
02:16There are players playing with knocks and injuries but that's the situation we're in.
02:20We can just about name a squad every week so we have to look after the players but also
02:25make sure they're prepped as they can be. But I think full credit to the lads.
02:28They've been incredible in terms of it. They're not wins, they've got on with it.
02:31There are players playing with decent injuries and stuff and we'll hopefully be able to see
02:38in the next couple of weeks players coming back from injuries etc.
02:41and hopefully that will help the squad going forward.
02:43Yes, and obviously we've got this league fixture and then we've got the FA Cup fixture.
02:46I think after that the fixture schedule is looking pretty rammed.
02:50I think we figured out the other day we've got something crazy.
02:53In that Christmas week we're playing three times a week.
02:55I think we're on Monday, Thursday and Sunday, aren't we?
02:58So we are going to need absolutely everyone, aren't we?
03:00Yes, exactly. You don't want to think too far ahead.
03:03This is probably the first Saturday before it gets into the real nitty-gritty of the Christmas period
03:10which seems to be punished for being on Sky.
03:13To play on the 23rd at night and then play one o'clock on the 26th.
03:18It's frustrating because obviously it doesn't feel like we get the same amount of rest that it really is.
03:26We can't really do anything with it. We'll just have to prepare the best we can.
03:29I think the one thing the lads have shown is their mentality and their desire and the togetherness
03:34which I've been really, really pleased with is the fact that they keep rolling out,
03:37they keep getting the performances and they're working hard for each other.
03:40I think we're going to need that even more, especially over the Christmas period.
03:44Thanks.
03:45Rob, looking at the table, you're just six points off 13th I think.
03:49It just shows how tough and competitive this league is, doesn't it?
03:53Yes, definitely. Obviously that's a nice positive spell on it.
03:56I think probably don't look at the league table too much at the moment.
03:59We're still early doors. It's still only the third of the season.
04:03We've only been in for six or seven games or whatever it might have been.
04:06But no, there's loads of positives there.
04:07I think the big thing for me is there's started to be a bit of belief within the lads
04:11that they can affect this league and they can affect the level.
04:13I think they've done it in patches and I think they've done it in games and spells.
04:17But I think we're starting to believe not only can we do it consistently in games for the majority
04:20but also to pick up the points as needed against the bigger clubs and the teams that are more established here.
04:25So, yes, lots of positives but, like you say, never get too high, never get too low.
04:29Just make sure we concentrate the next game and keep improving on the little things that we can control.
04:33Yeah, and Rotherham, they got Steve Evans in charge, somebody who had a lot of success here.
04:37Have your paths crossed before with Steve Evans?
04:39Do you know what? I think we played against his Stevenage team in the Cup at Gateshead.
04:44They were very good as the year they got promoted, actually.
04:47I can't think if I've played against these teams before.
04:51But, obviously, yeah, I have a huge respect for the manager.
04:54The amount of promotions he's got, he's always been successful where he's gone.
04:57And, obviously, Rotherham as well.
05:00Like I said before, I think where their league position is at the moment, I'm not sure where they are at the moment.
05:0617th, I think.
05:0717th, yeah, but it doesn't reflect where they are in the league.
05:11Their stats say they should be a lot higher and I think it's more a case of as and when.
05:15As it is, they will finish a lot higher than 17th.
05:18So, now it's going to be a really tough game.
05:20Obviously, the way he plays, the way he sets his team up is always really difficult to beat.
05:24They're also really difficult to defend against because, you know, they're aggressive.
05:29They're forward-thinking.
05:30The ball gets in the box a lot and they play with a lot of energy.
05:33So, I'm looking forward to that.
05:35It'll be a really good game and, obviously, I'm sure it'll be nice for Steve to come back.
05:38Yeah.
05:39One thing, Steve, and his assistant, Paul Rayner, they've got their sideline antics sometimes.
05:44They're in the referees' and the fourth officials' ear all the time and everything.
05:48Is that something that you can ignore during a game or is it something you have to be aware of, what they're trying to do with their antics?
05:54To me, I'm trying to get better at annoying the fourth officials.
05:57So, probably more of the fourth officials probably going to have a tough day.
06:00But, no, look, I think everyone's personality is different and Steve's obviously very passionate.
06:05You can see that by the way he is.
06:07I think his team's reflect that in terms of their energy and everything.
06:10So, no, I think it's just more concentrating on the lads and making sure that we maintain our standards that we've set
06:16and that we're able to continue and keep progressing from where we left off Saturday.
06:21Because I thought overall, I thought it was excellent.
06:23I thought second half especially was exceptional at times.
06:26And we just want to keep improving so that we can obviously get the goals
06:30and make sure we keep being studded at the back, keeping them clean sheets as well.
06:34Yeah.
06:35When they lost to Barnsley last week, the fans seemed to turn on their players as they went down the tunnel.
06:41And Steve opened up some comments afterwards.
06:43How grateful are you how supportive the Crawley fans have been?
06:46Certainly, especially away from home, they've been incredible at the match.
06:49They've been amazing.
06:50And even at home, I think they've been brilliant.
06:52I think they can see the hard work and the endeavour from the lads.
06:54And I think they can see that the performances are coming.
06:57And even after the game Saturday, the response from the fans, obviously,
07:00the noise they were making and the players going over there as well.
07:03It's great to see that the clubs feel so united.
07:05And it should be.
07:06It's tough because you get promoted.
07:08Sometimes you forget you've been promoted because of success and you're going into a really tough league.
07:12And it's hard when you're watching the game and the passion's flowing
07:14and you obviously want to win every game because everyone sets out to.
07:17I've been really impressed and feel quite humbled by the response I've had.
07:22I bumped into a Crawley fan in the station on the way down yesterday.
07:26I was chatting to him for 10, 15 minutes.
07:28It was lovely because everyone's really welcoming and it's a real community, family club.
07:32And it's something that I'm looking forward to getting to know people more
07:37and just enjoying the welcome.
07:39Hopefully, we get more and more times where it's enjoyable
07:41and we can spend a bit more time together and more home games.
07:45It seems like we've been away a lot this year so far.
07:47Yeah, and just a squad update.
07:49Jay Williams, Harry Forster missed out last week.
07:52Are there any updates on those two?
07:53Yeah, Jay's got an issue with his patellar tendon which he's had for a long time.
07:57He's got tendinitis.
07:59It's one of them ones that hopefully with rest he'll get better.
08:01He said he feels better now he's rested it.
08:03So, we'll just have to build him up slowly to make sure that when he does come back
08:06we're not putting him at risk or anything.
08:08Harry had a dead leg which seems to be quite a severe one.
08:11There's a lot of bruising come out.
08:12So, we couldn't risk him for the game.
08:13So, he's going for a scan.
08:14We'll find out.
08:15Hopefully, it's just a dead leg so it won't be too bad for him.
08:18Gav had a tight quarry last week.
08:21So, he'll be back in and obviously Brad's suspended.
08:23So, yeah, sort of a bit as it was but a bit as it has been so far.
08:29We're a little bit...
08:34Yeah, as it was but yeah, we'll have to just monitor it a couple
08:37because like with the games coming thick and fast
08:39we just need to make sure.
08:40My big belief is that I don't want to risk one player for one game to lose them for ten.
08:44Especially someone like Harry Forster who's been brilliant for us this year and stuff.
08:47So, we'll just assess the lads as we go and do right by the person,
08:50the human being in terms of what they need for their body
08:53whilst managing how much we want them to play
08:55and how much they obviously want to play as well.
08:57Yeah, and Jojo's returned fine from international duty, isn't he?
09:00Yeah, yeah.
09:01Unfortunately, I thought he might have...
09:02He didn't play obviously.
09:03We thought he might have played in a couple of the games
09:05so a bit gutted for him obviously when they're not qualifying.
09:07But no, he's back.
09:08He's all okay.
09:09He's obviously recovered because he took a really nasty whack to the head in the concussion.
09:13But no, so looking forward to having him back.
09:15He's been excellent before he obviously got injured and before he's played.
09:19So no, obviously to have someone like Jojo's come back into the squad is a massive bonus for us.
09:25So, just looking forward to getting the squad together for the next couple of days on the pitch
09:29and if the snow stops we'll take it from there.
09:32Brilliant, thanks Rob.
09:33Cheers.
09:34Cheers.
09:35Is that alright?
09:36Yeah, we're good.
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