00:01Scott, 2-1 win against Farnborough to continue the excellent pre-season form.
00:05Four wins and a draw. Thoughts on this afternoon?
00:07Yeah, I was really pleased how it started. I thought we started 10-15 minutes really well.
00:12I thought for 20 minutes after that we kind of lost our way and credit to Farnborough.
00:15They put us under a bit of pressure.
00:18At half-time for the next 15 minutes it was a bit of a nothing game
00:21and then once we made the subs I thought we were outstanding for 20-25 minutes.
00:25My biggest bugbear is conceding the goal late on.
00:28I think it's just a lapse of concentration.
00:30It's avoidable and it's the first goal we've conceded in five games.
00:34I can't be too hard on the lads but that will ruin my evening.
00:37Obviously we've got high standards, the management team and the players
00:40and that should ruin theirs as well.
00:41So I know it's something that we've been really proud of that we've not conceded a goal.
00:46But I thought it was a really, really good pre-season game to have
00:48against a really good side from down the road, just under 2,000 people here.
00:54Something on the line as well with the Army Cup.
00:56And I believe it's going to be continued next year as well.
00:59So I think it's a really good initiative and it's been a pleasure to be involved in.
01:03It feels like it's perfect to be an annual pre-season fixture really, doesn't it?
01:08Yeah, 100%.
01:09I think we've got a brand new side, Farnborough have got a brand new side
01:12and I think they'll go really well this year.
01:15And for us, I was going to say, we knew that there was a cup on the line.
01:18It wouldn't be the be-all and end-all if we hadn't won it, but it's nice to have won
01:21it.
01:21And I think it gave it that little bit of extra spice.
01:24There was a few tackles flying in and I know Spencer will like that as much as I do.
01:28Just making it a proper game.
01:30I don't think there's anything such as a friendly.
01:33You have to play it in the right experience, whatever you do.
01:36Whether that's a six-a-side game in training or a pre-season friendly,
01:38they've got to be played at full throttle.
01:41They've got to be played properly and correctly.
01:42And I thought both sides did that.
01:44I'd say it was nearly five clean shoots in five, wasn't it?
01:47I mean, still only one conceded.
01:48But I guess that's the standards you're setting at the moment, isn't it?
01:51Yeah, it's annoyed me.
01:52It really has.
01:53I think it was avoidable.
01:54There might have been a free kick in the build-up to it.
01:56But then after that, it's a couple more phases of play where we can do better.
02:00But like I said, it's been outstanding in terms of defensively.
02:03We've not given too much away.
02:05And we've scored, what, eight goals, if I'm right in saying.
02:09Which is good.
02:10I'd still like to get a few more, if I'm honest.
02:12I thought we could have been a little bit more clinical, a bit more ruthless.
02:14Maybe with our final pass.
02:16I'm not saying that we've had loads and loads of opportunities.
02:19But I think we're getting to really good areas.
02:20And maybe we've been a little bit wasteful if I'm being really picky.
02:24So no, overall, really, really good day.
02:27I think it's important to have relationships with close football clubs
02:30within this sort of vicinity.
02:32So it's nice to have played Farnborough in good spirits.
02:35And I think it will continue for many years now.
02:38And you've got many different threats going forward as well.
02:41And one of those is that long throw from Elijah, which again,
02:44sort of causes havoc.
02:45And Tyree's heads at home.
02:47There's so many different ways to score a goal.
02:48And I make no apologies if we score from a long throw throughout the season.
02:52I don't care what it looks like.
02:53And I don't think the fans do either.
02:55We want to win games of football.
02:56We want to be competitive.
02:57And it's a hell of a weapon.
02:58So it wasn't pretty, but teams do it.
03:02A lot of teams do it now.
03:03You can see Arsenal and teams like that that launch it in the box.
03:06I think Brentford have got a right back that launches it from everywhere.
03:09And it's a nightmare to play against.
03:11So I'm actually glad that for once it's paid off.
03:14I think a bad shot a couple of weeks ago.
03:16It was two disallowed goals that went straight in.
03:19But we managed to get first contact and then second contact on it today.
03:21So, no, it's something that we've got in our armoury.
03:25And we'll use it when we need to.
03:27Obviously, pre-planned all those changes on the hour mark.
03:29And as you say, that period after that, you were really front-footed
03:33and really taking the game and looking really strong there, weren't you?
03:36Yeah.
03:36Listen, we brought on lads that played together more regularly.
03:39So they kind of understand each other.
03:41Lads that have got a little bit more pace than going behind.
03:44So, yeah, we expected to improve from maybe 60 minutes onwards.
03:49A team probably a bit more experienced.
03:52But, yeah, listen, it's a friendly game.
03:54But like I said, I thought it was a really good test.
03:57It was played and intensity that I know I enjoyed.
04:00I know Spencer would have enjoyed as well.
04:02And that's exactly what we both want.
04:03We wanted a really good test and we definitely got it.
04:06Marcus's pace running in behind looks a real threat, doesn't it?
04:09Really sort of difficult to deal with for opposition to that.
04:11Yeah, we've got a hell of a lot of pace out wide and up top.
04:14It's something that I think as a sort of defender myself at the moment
04:19where I've been playing for the last few years,
04:20it's the hardest thing to play against.
04:22You can defend someone when they're on the ball,
04:24but if they kick it and run past you, it's difficult when they're just quicker.
04:27The old biomechanics and whatnot, it's tough.
04:30So, yeah, we've got a lot of lads that are willing to run.
04:33I think from 60 minutes onwards, we kind of saw that.
04:37Yeah, Marcus obviously runs in behind, gets it over the pass keeper.
04:40And John Gilbert, nice easy finish for him,
04:42but he's in the right place there just to finish it off.
04:44Listen, he's always on the move, he's always on the run.
04:47He doesn't score that goal if he's not willing to run.
04:50So, he's been outstanding, I think, the last two games.
04:53I thought there was a bit of trickery down there in the corner as well.
04:55I don't know if you guys will be able to see from where you were,
04:57but he sets the tone in terms of how we want to look.
05:00And that's why it was my first signing, right?
05:02I think I signed him probably within a week of getting the job.
05:06He doesn't stop running, he's honest, he's got good quality,
05:08good set pieces.
05:11So, yeah, I think him and Marcus D'Angelo look really good together.
05:14Two wins out, two at home as well, when the season does start,
05:17you want to sort of build on that and make this place a fortress, right?
05:19Yeah, of course, two really tough league games, Hartlepool and Harrogate.
05:23But, like I say, they're names, right?
05:26They're two massive, massive clubs with really good managers,
05:28really good players.
05:29But ultimately, it's 11 versus 11 on the pitch.
05:32We'll get our lads prepped as best as we can
05:34and hopefully make this place a difficult place to come, right?
05:37So, it's all well and good, hoping, but we've got to put it into practice.
05:41But I think we've got a really good, honest bunch of lads
05:44that will give everything for the football club,
05:45for themselves and for the management team, right?
05:48So, that's what it's all about.
05:50Nice cup in the bag today and look forward to a good test with Oxford next.
05:53Yeah, buzzing, great game to have.
05:55I just said a minute ago that I kind of hope we suffer in a way.
05:59I hope they bring a really good side down here
06:00and they have a lot of the ball and they make us run,
06:03they make us work, make us sweat.
06:04Because at the moment, we've kind of not had it our own way,
06:07but we've won four, we've drawn one.
06:09I think it'd be really good to see the other side of our game
06:12if we have to dig in deep and show that kind of spirit
06:14that England showed against Mexico, right?
06:17That's the kind of thing that I want to see.
06:18But I think we'll come out looking good.
06:20I think the boys have got that in abundance
06:22and we're looking forward to the match.
06:24I think we'll be right back.
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