Johnnie Jackson remains positive despite seeing our side lose a two-goal lead at Newport County this afternoon.
Our manager was understandably disappointed at the manner of the goals we conceded, but highlighted the level of workrate that was put in by our squad off the back of a courageous performance away at Premier League Chelsea in midweek.
James Tilley’s brace was the obvious highlight but looking at the grand scheme of things we also remain unbeaten in League Two - a feat not to be sniffed at.
Here Johnnie provides his thoughts on the game itself, the performance of our in-form winger and the fitness of Ali Al-Hamadi.
The full interview is below, and a transcript of the Q&A with Johnnie.
ON THE GAME…
It was a good point first and foremost on the back of the efforts that the lads put in three days ago. To go again and produce that amount of effort delighted me. Obviously because we were ahead in the game there’s always that disappointment, but this is a tough place to come.
After the week we’ve had and given the fact that they’ve won their two home games here really convincingly, we were under no illusions that this would be a difficult match. It was a really good game between two teams going at it. It was a fair point.
ON THE HALF-TIME MESSAGE…
I felt that in the last 10 minutes of the first-half our energy dropped. Maybe that was Wednesday night playing a part. We tried to freshen it up a little bit in the second-half, we changed the shape and the personnel. That did give us a bit more impetus. But we had a lull in that period and they did capitalise.
ON THE GOALS CONCEDED…
We can always improve. I was quite disappointed with the goals. We were quite tired in our decision making in those moments. We haven’t conceded that type of goal yet this season. We’ve scored two great goals of our own and equally given away two sloppy ones. It’ll sting a bit but like we always do, we’ll look back at where we can get better. I’m not criticising my boys today as the effort they put in was magnificent.
ON JAMES TILLEY…
You don’t have to do a lot with him. I give him a specific role within the team which he enjoys. We’ve got a bit of a pact that if he gives me the defensive side of things, I’ll allow him to get in certain attacking positions where he can have, not a free role, but a license to wander and roam. And why not when a player has that quality. I think he’s probably in the form of his life. Two great goals. But what I will always mention about him and the other wingers is that they defend for the team as well.
ON ALI AL-HAMADI...
He just had a bit of cramp. It should be all good. He put in another big shift off the back of Wednesday. We were thinking about making the change at that stage anyway as we wanted Josh (Davison) to come on and give us some energy and freshness.
PICS: Dan Minto (Pro Sports Images)