00:00Colin, probably a wider scull and then you probably felt fair in the MMA.
00:10We were pretty proud of the performance today.
00:12Yeah, really, really proud. I thought the lads were outstanding to stick in the game until the very, very end.
00:17Liverpool have to bring on every superstar that they had on the bench to make sure that they got over the line.
00:23I thought what the lads did, the discipline out of possession, the game plan that we put together,
00:29to make it as difficult as possible, the lads did that to a tee.
00:34Got a little bit tired towards the end, obviously, and conceded that third and fourth,
00:38which I felt like the scoreline we didn't really deserve.
00:42Overall, I thought our lads were outstanding.
00:44To come to Anfield, they hit the post after 30 seconds or whatever,
00:47obviously set down for the market for the performance,
00:49but obviously it could have been different maybe if that just got in.
00:52Yeah, I thought we started the game so, so well.
00:54I thought they needed an unbelievable strike to settle them down a little bit.
00:59If that goes in, maybe it can turn out to be a little bit different,
01:05but even with that not going in, I thought the way we handled ourselves,
01:09the occasion under the lights at Anfield,
01:12the hunger and desire that the lads showed to go long spells throughout the game.
01:16I knew coming into the game that that would happen because they're a top team, obviously,
01:20and we'd have to suffer at times, but the lads' focus and concentration without the ball,
01:23I thought was at a really, really high level.
01:26They've got to take big confidence from that.
01:28Your thoughts on the goal?
01:29You did score.
01:30It was a very strong one, but a very lucky fan.
01:32Adam Phillips said it over.
01:33Yeah, first and foremost, it's such an amazing kind of feeling for Adam, for Philo.
01:40Scoring a cup in front of the Kop, a Liverpool fan,
01:43coming up through the academy I thought was outstanding for him,
01:46something that he looked back on for so many years of his career, of his life,
01:51and always to say that he scored at the Kop in, which is something that many people don't do.
01:56I was a little bit disappointed with their player, if I'm honest.
01:58I thought it was a bit disrespectful.
01:59I don't think he does that against Chelsea.
02:01I don't think he does that against Arsenal.
02:02I don't think he does that in a Champions League game.
02:04So, yeah, unbelievable little feeling and buzz for Adam, obviously,
02:10but a little bit of a lack of respect from their players' point of view.
02:14Did you have a penalty on the rest of the area in the second half?
02:16Yeah, potentially.
02:17Look, I thought at the time it was a stonewall penalty.
02:20Looking back at it now, obviously, from the broadcast point of view,
02:24seeing it after the game,
02:25the player probably does get a little bit of a touch on the ball,
02:28but at the same time you could see that he's got into that panic mode.
02:30Reyes has got across him, you know, pulling his shirt a little bit,
02:33and it was easily a decision that could have went that way.
02:36I thought it was a big moment in the game.
02:382-1, was it around the 65th minute, something like that,
02:41and you never know, obviously, what can happen after that.
02:43So it was a big decision that just didn't quite go for us.
02:45How much can you take from the defensive effort,
02:47the blocks and the tackles and the organisation that he had to take into the league form as well?
02:53Yeah, exactly that, Doug.
02:54Yeah, look, I think we obviously had a different approach tonight
02:58in terms of the way we set up.
02:59Now, you know, we have to put a game plan in place to try and keep us in the game for as long as possible.
03:04And one of the things that we've probably struggled with this year is obviously the goals that we concede.
03:08But I've seen now against a top team that the lads can do it.
03:13They can defend their box, they can block shots, they can head it clear,
03:16they can defend set plays, and we need to take that into the league now.
03:20So I saw it first-hand here at a big environment with top-class footballers,
03:25and we need to take that kind of mentality now into the league as well,
03:29particularly defending our box.
03:30Because if we get that side right, I think we'll pick up points.
03:32Great response from your fans as well.
03:34Yeah, amazing.
03:35Look, I think at the end there, you know, it gives everyone that buzz, that energy.
03:41You know, there's that connection between fans and players.
03:45They were so proud of the lads' efforts tonight, I was.
03:48And we deservedly got clapped off by them.
03:50And I think, look, they can all go home tonight with that energy,
03:53that they've got a group of players here that are willing to do anything to get results.
03:56That's different for me, really sad for Josh.
03:58I love to miss the match.
03:59Just tell us about his injury and how long it might be.
04:02Yeah, it's a bit of a freak one for Josh, if I'm honest.
04:04Really disappointing.
04:05He did press on Friday, expecting to play the game.
04:08You know, Liverpool fan, big occasion for him.
04:10And just got a freak injury in training.
04:14Planted his foot just like you'd plant this millions of times.
04:17And he's ended up cracking a bone in his foot.
04:19So really, really disappointing for him, for the squad, for me,
04:23because he's a big player for us.
04:24And you get one of them freak injuries once a season.
04:27And unfortunately for him, it was him on Friday in training.
04:30Any times going on?
04:32Just for the foreseeable, I think.
04:34Thank you, Colin.
04:35Colin, how important can this be when you're playing catch up in the second half of the season?
04:39In terms of the belief of the players?
04:41Yeah, we have to take big courage and belief from it.
04:46Obviously, we're so many games in hand against the teams above us now.
04:50And we've obviously just got the league formed out to focus on.
04:52We've got such a busy schedule from kind of Reading onwards.
04:56You know, we played Blackpool, then Reading, and then we're literally Saturday, Tuesday for about six weeks.
05:00So, yeah, we need to take big courage, big energy, big belief from this performer tonight
05:06and take it into that busy schedule ahead.
05:08Obviously, you put a lot of focus on the development of players.
05:11A lot of young players out there tonight.
05:13Just how much will they have gained from this experience?
05:16Yeah, loads.
05:17Look, I think with the players we had out there tonight, Vimal, Blandy, Reyes, Patrick Kelly, obviously, come on.
05:23You know, we're really fortunate to have them.
05:26The way they've developed since the start of the season has been really exciting for everyone.
05:31And that's a real big bonus and a positive for the club's point of view.
05:35And from my point of view, you know, the belief now that they'll have after testing it against the top players in the country.
05:42They need to kick on now with their careers even more so.
05:44And, you know, have that fire in the belly even more to know that they can, you know, rise to the occasion.
05:50Because that's a big thing to have, whether you play in Blackpool or Exeter or Anfield away.
05:54To know you have the mentality to be able to perform at this level is something that should kick them on even more.
06:00When we talk about their development, what will this mean for yours as a coach?
06:04Look, I suppose it's probably something that I can take away from the game that I know how to put a game plan together against in a situation that I know that it won't look like what the league feels like.
06:16You know, you try and, you know, have long spells with the ball and, you know, how you attack and how you score in League One.
06:24And obviously tonight was a different viewpoint completely.
06:27We had to be, you know, really disciplined without the ball and mid to low block and suffer at times.
06:32So we had to approach the game a little bit different.
06:34And, you know, I had, you know, four or five days to put that game plan in place.
06:38So I know from my point of view that I can set up a team in the league or in a way that, you know, might come up against better opposition.
06:45So that's, you know, a big confidence booster for myself as well.
06:50Conor, after everything that tonight has entailed, how difficult though is it to get the lads to just refocus ahead of that game against Blackpool at the weekend?
06:57Yeah, I think we have to do it.
06:58I think, look, big efforts tonight.
07:00The lads need to recover now physically and mentally from it and get themselves up for a game at the weekend.
07:06You know, it's not always time that you'll get answered under the lights as a buzz.
07:10So our fundamentals are in the league and we need to regroup now and refocus and re-energise ourselves heading into Blackpool.
07:16And look, the confidence should be really, really high going into that game off the back of the performance tonight.
07:21Imagine those emotions.
07:22Anything that it's emotion that you've taken after last night?
07:25Yeah, emotion, mentally, physically.
07:28You know, they'll want to have put in a big effort to make themselves proud and their families proud and the club proud.
07:35And it shows to me tonight that they can go the extra yard for everyone involved.
07:40So we just need to regroup a little bit now and refocus and recover and be ready for the weekend.
07:46There were so many big performances tonight as well, but Reyes was named player of the match.
07:50I just wonder what you made of his performance tonight as well, because obviously he's watched at 21.
07:54Yeah, outstanding.
07:55Yeah, look, he's developed really well since the summer.
07:57It took him a couple of months to get up to speed in terms of League One level.
08:01He started playing, you know, a couple of months ago and now he's put in consistent performances,
08:06which has, you know, gotten the plauders that he's got.
08:10So yeah, it just goes to show that, you know, when you have a plan in place to develop these young lads
08:16and you put the trust in these guys to go out and perform and play and develop them,
08:20you know, it's a really good place for young players to be.
08:23All right, thank you. Cheers.
08:26Cheers.
