Captain Alex Woodyard is aiming to extend our unbeaten league run to seven in next Saturday’s early kick-off at home to Grimsby, following our FA Cup disappointment.
Goals in each half from Chesterfield ended our participation in the famous knockout competition, and the skipper is looking for a response next weekend at Plough Lane in League Two.
“We have to lick our wounds and extend our six-game unbeaten run in the league,” said Woody. “With Grimsby, we’ll be aiming to make that seven. This will be a real test now of the character of the team, as to whether or not we can get back to winning ways.
“We can’t let that negativity after a cup exit go into the Grimsby game, because we are in a great place. We’re still in the Papa John’s Trophy and I feel we’re in a good position in the league, so there’s still a lot to play for this season."
Having been on an FA Cup run previously with Lincoln City - the then non-league side reached the quarter-final stages and lost out away to Arsenal in 2017 - defeat in the great competition was certainly a tough one to take for Woody.
“I am gutted,” said Woody. “I know personally what moments the FA Cup can bring. It’s a shame we’re out of it, but credit to Chesterfield."
“It’s gutting for the fans, because we know what could have been if we’d have got through, and earned a a cup tie at a top side. We weren’t good enough and we didn’t deserve it.
“We’re disappointed with their opener and with their second it just looked like they crossed the ball and it’s gone into the far corner. We still had some very good chances, but with the form we’ve been in recently, we’re disappointed with the performance we put in.
“We could have got back into it, before the second goal. We had a good chance and what with how we’ve been recently, we would have usually put that away and buried it.”
Having recovered from a long-term calf injury, which ruled him out of the end of last season and the start to our current campaign, he’s now closing in on 100 appearances for the Club.
“I took a bang to my shin, but I’m all right,” said Woody. “It won’t be anything too serious, just a bit of a bruise, although it was a sore one. The calf injury seems to be fine now. I feel like I’m getting fitter, but it’s a real test now to see whether we can come back fighting and keep that unbeaten run going in the league.”
Pics: Pro Sports Images.
You can see the full interview with Alex Woodyard below, via the link to our official YouTube channel.