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GA
It is non-stop, the games are thick and fast, the quality of the opposition that we are up against - we must have been doing the majority of the biggest teams in the league early on in the season. We are still relatively unscathed, preparation has gone great, this last couple of days for the Peterborough game, so we go into it again in decent optimistic mood. But, they are a side that scores goals and have big players and it will be another tough one.
JP
Your side bounced back to form in terms of goals in the midweek victory at Hartlepool, how satisfying was that for you?
GA
It was really satisfying, we got the question on Monday about the goals and I looked at the table on Wednesday morning, I think we found our goal difference was the second best in the league. So, it was nice to answer that criticism, nice to be second best goal difference in the league, I don't think you have mentioned that, so that was good, and we got things back on track, which is excellent for us.
JP
In particular what impressed you most about that performance?
GA
Grit, a determination, a grit and a response to the first blip of the season, which was the defeat at Bournemouth. It is always interesting and a concern when you have got a young team and a team we think needs a lot of help and a lot of advice. But, bouncing back when there were a few little criticisms going around on Monday, which possibly were a little bit uncalled for.
But, they have bounced back and had a right go, and their determination to keep a clean sheet is massive. The ability to score goals we thought was fantastic, we are not the finished article by a long way, but we have seen a response from a young group of players that has got to bode well for the future.
Hopefully those young players will learn from that and benefit from that and keep playing in the type of football and with the type of determination that they have got, then the season could be interesting. But, it is nice to get back on the right lines with that group and I thought they were excellent on Tuesday night, especially second-half.
JP
A number of key talking points coming out of it, impressive performances, but what in particular impressed you about Gary Madine's hat-trick? In particular given the situation that he was in going into the game.
GA
I just think Gary has been waiting to score a hat-trick, I think the chances have been created. You are always concerned with the lack of goals but I did state on Monday and in times gone by when we have been talking about the goalscoring situation, that I think there are goals in the team, and I think we have been creating chances.
The first time, the only time, was Bournemouth, it was the only time I didn't think there was a goal there in that particular game. But, that does happen for the top teams in the world, never mind such as the likes of Carlisle United. But, Saturday was the first time I didn't think we looked like scoring, every other game I felt there were goals there, and for one reason or another we haven't put as many in the net as we would like to have done.
We have been terrific at the other end but I do think the chances are coming, they are being created, and I think that once you are doing that you are likely to put them away. I did say that someone was going to get a good hiding soon and unfortunately for Hartlepool it was them on the night. But, that has gone and we look forward now and hope we can replicate.
JP
You were looking for that 25 goal sort of striker, I know everyone is always looking for that, you seem to have picked out a player in Gary Madine who can lead that line a little bit and is up to five goals now. How important is he to the team at the moment?
GA
I am not really bothered about an individual getting 25 goals, it would be great, it would be fantastic for the football club, it means we would be up at the top end of the league. I am worried about us getting goals through the team, the way we play, the type of football we are playing, I just want the team to score goals. It would be nice for somebody to get that milestone, it would please everybody, but if we get the goals spread out and we are scoring then it doesn't really matter to me who scores.
JP
You moved the formation around a little bit on Tuesday night, just talk us through what your thinking was there.
GA
I said I would do that, I have told you that in the past that I will change things round if I felt the need to do so, and we did it on Tuesday night and it worked.
JP
How impressed were you with Francois Zoko in that more advanced role for him then?
GA
Erm, he did alright, Francois did alright, he is a good player, we need to get him in areas where he can hurt teams and I think we did that on Tuesday night.
JP
I guess only a goal was missing for him, but he couldn't have got any closer could he?
GA
I don't know, again, a goal is the icing on the cake thing. They are nice things to talk about but if he plays like that and we score four goals away from home every week then I don't think I would be too upset if he doesn't score. But, on a personal note he wants to score and we want him to score, but if we can score four that is terrific, and he is instrumental in a lot of the attacking things we do.
JP
You also played with two more classic wide men for the first time this season, how do you think that influenced the game for you and can do as something you can use throughout the season?
GA
I just think variation, we have got variation. I have said that all along this season and I said we will pick the right times when I think we need to use them. We used them on Tuesday night and we got a 4-0 victory so it has come off. But, they are there, they are at my disposal, I don't want to be pigeonholed as being a team that plays that system or that. I think when the time is right to make changes I think we will do that, and we did it on Tuesday and it worked for us.
JP
Wonderful goal but also an injury for Lubomir Michalik in the game, what is the latest with him?
GA
I am going to ring him today, they have given him a three day deadline in terms of they might be able to give us a timespan after three days. I met him for a coffee on Wednesday to see how he was and he was pretty down in the dumps with the injury, and concerns about how long it might be. So, I will ring him today and he will have had his three day period where it has settled down and we will see where we go with it.
JP
But he is certainly out for this weekend?
GA
At the moment he is looking very doubtful.
JP
Peter Murphy came on in the game and certainly didn't let anyone down despite a lack of football, is he able to step up to the plate once again at the weekend?
GA
I would think so yeah, if Lubo is not going to make it then I think Peter would be a natural replacement, I don't think there is a problem with that.
JP
What does it say about him though that with that lack of football he just slotted in so effortlessly in that game on Tuesday?
GA
That he wants to be part of the football club and he wants to be part of the squad, and he has maybe got a point to prove. So, he came on and did very, very well for us and kept a clean sheet, which is what we need to do more of.
JP
If you do get bad news regarding Lubo though will you have to look back into the transfer market on that front just to make sure you have got enough options?
GA
I think it is something where we will probably let the weekend go by and then we will assess things day by day. But, we will certainly have a look at Saturday's game and if I think I need to do something then I will put a proposal to the board as I normally do.