Skipper Jake Reeves can’t wait to get back under the lights of the Cherry Red Records Stadium on Tuesday night, with a League Two play-off place at stake.
After Saturday’s 2-0 victory at Notts County, we closed to a point off seventh place Gillingham - our next opponents - who occupy the last position.
Jake said: “It’s going to be a massive match and we’ll need all the fans again. I’m sure they’ll turn up in their numbers. Normally, traditionally, we’re quite good under lights and hopefully we can bring that again.”
You can listen to everything Jake had to say below.
“The support we had here of well over a thousand was incredible. You won’t even see that at some clubs who are higher up the Football League. Hopefully that’s a sign of the club being so connected. They’re enjoying what they’re seeing and there’s a real big belief in the whole club.”
Having achieved automatic promotion out of League Two last season with Stevenage, Jake knows what’s required when entering the home straight.
“We had a chat internally in the week,” said Jake. “There was a little bit of frustration and I’m sure there has been amongst the fans too, particularly with a few results recently. We feel like we should have picked up a few more points and been a bit higher.
“We had to put that to bed when we spoke about things and with these last ten games it becomes a mini league. With a little bit of momentum, you can break into those places, so that’s the aim.”
Yesterday’s outcome produced the same result as the last time we visited Meadow Lane eight years ago, when Jake was a part of Wimbledon’s midfield that day. Later that season we would, of course, go on to achieve promotion via the League Two play-offs.
“We knew how tough it was going to be,” said Jake after an own goal and a first from Kofi Balmer sealed victory late on this time around.
“With the expansive style of football that they play and with new system that we’ve been playing, it gave us a real good chance in the game - as long as we could stay in it, be resolute, frustrate them and hopefully have a few moments of our own and that’s what happened.
“Hopefully Kofi can get a couple more before the season is over,” said Jake. “It’s a huge credit also to the boys that have almost been thrown into a new system as well. Lee Brown, naturally a left-back, has been amazing where he’s filled in.
“John-Joe can play centre-half, but he’s mainly a midfielder. He’s looked like an absolute rock for the last three games, he’s been incredible. To have not been playing at Mansfield and to have come into this side and do what he’s doing is a big credit to him."
Photos: Jez Tighe and Stuart Butcher (Pro Sports Images).
