Assistant Manager Terry Skiverton has emphasised the importance of Harry Pell and what the midfielder brings to the side ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Carlisle.
“I think since Harry has come into the team he brings a different dynamic,” said Terry after Friday’s final session at our New Malden training base.
“People keep talking about how we play, but we go in there to compete. We’re not going in there to play pretty football and get beaten. We go in there to be tight and not let teams play football. For us to do that, there’s no pretty way.
“We’re concerned about our players bringing their best, showing our supporters effort with hard tackles and high pressing, so that they see we’re fighting for the badge.
“Harry gives 100 per cent and we’ve got a lot of players who really give it a go and are trying as hard as they can. With players like Harry in the squad we’ve got that combative spirit. It’s not just him, I think we’ve got six or seven of them and that creates a winning environment.”
Terry also believes defender Aaron Pierre is another who will add even more strength to our run-in for the season, after the deadline day signing boosted his fitness in a behind-closed-doors game away to Portsmouth in midweek.
Terry added: “Aaron has been a breath of fresh air - he’s a little bit like a quiet warrior. He’s not the most vocal, but he’s already smashed a couple of people in training! He’s a good presence and got through the game really well on Tuesday. Aaron and Will Nightingale were really solid at the back.
“It’s good to have someone with that power and pace, but also with that CV he’s got of winning at this level and the level above. He knows what we need to do as a football club to get us close to those play-off places.”
Although we’ve only lost twice in the league since mid-October, we’ve only scored twice since the start of the year, and the management team are demanding more in the final third.
“We’ve been really focusing on our quality this week,” said Terry. “We’ve been saying to the lads that we can’t just rely on one or two people for goals – it’s got to come from all areas.
“We’ve been working all around the penalty box, not just from open play, but set plays as well. There’s been a real emphasis on us getting goals because our defensive form has been very good of late.”
You can see the full ten-minute, pre-match preview from the training ground with Terry Skiverton below, via the link to our official YouTube channel.