Stockport County (H): Press Conference Notes

[The Joker]

Andy Scott Quotes:
“I don’t think it was a particularly good game. I think there was an air of uncertainty on and off the pitch because of recent results, although not necessarily performances.

The pressure was on the boys to get three points and we haven’t won on a Saturday since the first day of the season and we haven’t won as many games at home as we would have liked or performed as we would have liked.

Three points is the most important thing and there is plenty more to work on and we can build on what we’ve done here.

Both the lads down the left hand side have got bundles of energy and Dicko likes to go forward. Sometimes he sparks us off and gets us going. He made a run down the left hand side, lost the ball but then won the tackle and that lifts everybody.

That’s what we were asking for. We were asking individuals in the changing room to go out there and lift not only the side but the crowd as well. They need to see we are doing our best. It sparks off the rest of the players and Carl Cort and Charlie MacDonald linked up well again.

We got wide and got balls in the box and we looked dangerous but we didn’t do it as much as we would like, but the result was the most important thing today.

It has been a long week. We had a good clean sheet at home and we felt the first 30 minutes at Orient was one of the best spells we’ve had this season but then we lose the game. For all the positive stuff we took out of the game, the negative vibe does overtake you in training.

I’ve always been one to try and create a positive atmosphere and we’ve been doing that this week. But of course at the back of their minds they are always aware that their mistakes are going to be highlighted and you can see why they are nervy. It is completely understandable. But they are strong characters and are desperate to do well. Like I said in my programme notes you never see any of those lads give less than 100%.

David Hunt came in today and had trained for less than three days after being out for a month and he performed like that. He gave everything for the cause and is out on his feet now.

Myles has been going really well in the reserves and got 30 minutes today and scored a goal.

It is a team effort and we work really hard during training and it is nice they get their reward with three points at the end of it. Hopefully we can continue with the better performances and get some more points to get us up the league.

Now we’ve got to go and do it again at Exeter next week, who got a last minute equaliser at Wycombe today. Where we are is probably a fair reflection of the league. We’re doing better than the other sides that have come up with us and that is probably a pretty fair reflection on what we were last year but I would like us to kick on and show we have improved on last year and hopefully get in the top half.

Yes, it was a very tough decision [to leave out Alan Bennett]. He has been fantastic since he came here, but that is what I am paid for - to make the tough decisions.

Alan is distraught that he wasn’t playing, but he accepts my decision and will work hard to get back into the side. He has been playing consistently well for a long time now. It is probably the most consistent spell of football he has had in his career. If you look at his age he hasn’t been playing professional football for a long while. So he takes a dip of form and I just felt it was the right time to take him out.

James came in and did very well although I feel there are a few areas we still need to work on.

Nikki Bull picked up an injury in training yesterday. It was a last minute thing where he hurt his shoulder and he’s seeing a specialist. I thought Lewis Price who has been waiting his turn came in and was exceptional.

Myles has certainly done well in the reserves, which is the main reason I wanted a reserve side this season, so that players can get game time and learn how we want to play. Myles is very direct and desperate to do well and he understands what he needs to do to get in the side.

Competition for places in the side is getting there. Strevs will hopefully get 90 mins on Monday then we should have a full squad to pick from. That is the reason I didn’t go into the loan market, because I am very confident in the squad we have got.

I think we are going to get stronger and it is important that I transmit that confidence to the lads and say you are good enough and I want you here and that is why we don’t need anyone at the moment.”