Manager’s Notes

THE MANAGER SIMON WEAVER

GOOD AFTERNOON and I hope everyone at home is safe and well and ready to support the lads in any way you can. I would like to extend my welcome to Matt Taylor, his staff, players and officials who have made the long journey up from Exeter to North Yorkshire today. Exeter are another really good, well-organised team and will be keen to rectify the result at their place before Christmas, so we will all need to be on our game to ensure that doesn’t happen and to get the result and our home form back on track.

Tuesday night was incredibly frustrating for everyone as we were chomping at the bit to get back on the pitch after the defeat at Cambridge and were ready to go again, but the power cut was something you don’t expect and was something very much out of our control. Saturday’s game at Cambridge was disappointing after getting off to such a great start against a very good team. We got the early goal we wanted and dominated the first half hour but it was almost like going one up and having something to protect caused us a problem whereas it should have been the other way round. It was really on for us to cause them huge problems after taking the lead, to drive on, play our way and push for another but instead we backed off, stopped playing our way and allowed them back into the game, to get their passing game going and to apply concerted pressure on us. Their ability and quality on the ball particularly in the middle of the park showed and that’s where we need to get to. We need to be brave and believe in ourselves in those situations and continue to play football. The sending off didn’t help but we had already lost control of the game by then. But, we live and learn and it’s why we were so eager to get back out there on Tuesday, but that wasn’t to be, and we now look forward to the game today instead. We’ve started on the front foot in the last three outings against three very good ‘form’ teams in Oldham, Carlisle (despite being abandoned) and Cambridge with a positive mindset, but we just need to find a way of sustaining that in order to get the results. After the first week of the January transfer window, we have added more strength in depth to the squad and every one of the players is very keen to do their bit for the cause and to help continue our progress as team. Enjoy the game wherever you may be watching it and please stay safe! Simon

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