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GA
I think it is a competition where the early rounds, they just have that feel about them where a few of the so called bigger teams, and we have become a bigger team in this competition from the normal thing......
We didn't get our game going, we didn't get our tempo and our desire like we have done and we made hard work of a game that should have been maybe a tad easier.
But, credit to Port Vale, they were better than us for an hour and I don't mind saying that. We have said all along that in League One and League Two that if you don't prepare yourself and get your approach right and start the game in the right fashion then you are going to find life difficult, as the likes of Colchester and Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton in the first round have found to their cost. The important thing though in a cup game is getting through, and we managed to do that.
PN
With regard to those players who got their chance on Tuesday night to impress you, did they do enough to keep themselves in the team for Saturday?
GA
We will have to have a look, we don't make those decisions today. I have got a picture in my mind of what I want to do for Saturday. It will be a totally different game, absolutely totally different, it is back to the league, the edge is there to everything. You will find that the edge will become more apparent in those particular games.
But, tomorrow is back to league football, we know we want to put on a good performance, we know I think what we have got to do to improve on the recent home situation with the league. I think the players are ready to do that, they are a good group and I think their response will be excellent tomorrow whichever eleven we pick.
PN
Any reason why maybe the team has done better away from home than at home recently?
GA
No, no reason really, I think it boils down to the converting chances. You have seen us convert chances against MK Dons and all of a sudden we got four goals in about a 20 minute spell. We converted a goal on Tuesday night and then all of a sudden we got another one five minutes later.
I think the key is conversion, the rules of football will never change, if you don't put the ball in the back of the net eventually somewhere along the line you are going to get hurt. I was listening to Gus Poyet moaning about his result at Tranmere when he said they battered Tranmere in the first-half and should have been three or four up.
They only went in 1-0 up, couldn't get another goal and ended up conceding one late in the game, which happens, and will always happen in football. So, I think it is the conversion rate we are concerned about, not the amount of chances we are or aren't creating, or scoring. We have got to make sure that when we do create we put the ball in the back of the net, and that is the key issue that I have got to address with the players.
PN
Without commenting on what has happened in the past with Lee Hughes, but obviously he causes controversy wherever he goes and gets special attention from supporters. Do you think in a way that kind of attention almost spurs him on in a way?
GA
I have no idea, he does to seem rile opposition fans wherever he goes, I am sure he will get his fair share tomorrow. It is probably an issue I would love to steer clear of completely but I do know he is the type of player that upsets opponents, and that is probably where I am concerned.
But, if his antics upset our crowd and they get on to him and it makes him have a poorer performance then our fans will have done a little bit of playing their part as well. But, the issues he has had surrounding him are probably far too delicate for me to make any comment on.
PN
That is Notts County, what about your own side? How is the squad looking today?
GA
Hopefully in good shape. We enjoy our Fridays, they are generally very bright, they are receptive. I hope that determination is there, I am itching to get on the training field for some reason, I don't know why again today, but probably the weather and the training pitch is in great shape. So, it is nice to be on there and working and let's hope we get the right sort of stuff done and get a good result tomorrow.
PN
And the injury situation, how is that looking at the moment?
GA
Lubo (Lubomir Michalik) is not a million miles away, but he is not going to be ready for this weekend and possibly not the next. Thir (Paul Thirlwell) probably another couple of weeks, Danny Livesey is upping his training in terms of the rehabilitation work he is doing. Hopefully he might even be on the grass joining in with some work, maybe back end of next week, so that is encouraging. Richard (Offiong) is still not right but we think we are getting there.
PN
What about Marc Bridge-Wilkinson? What is his situation?
GA
Bridgey is back on the training field now, he probably needs some good training and a couple of games. We have got a Cumberland Cup classic against Aspatria on Tuesday, so book early for your seats. But, that will be great value for Bridgey, he can have a game in that one and show us what he can do.
PN
Andy Cook has had to return back from his loan spell at Barrow early because of injury, what is his situation?
GA
He is back now, I think it is just a knock on his ankle but he is going to stay with us I think after Saturday and work with us and try to force his way round the squad. But, it has been a bit frustrating for him that he hasn't had the amount of pitch time he might have liked at Barrow. But, he is OK, it has given him a real taste of real football and shows him how hard this game is. He is coming back and he is going to work with us until we decide any different.
PN
Frustrating for him, how frustrating was it for you that he didn't get too much pitch time there?
GA
It is more on a personal level with Andy, he needs games. But, he has only started I think one game at Barrow and that just shows him how difficult it is, and it puts things into perspective on where his current development is.
We want to work with him, he is a smashing lad who is working his hardest to try to force his way into a first team. He is finding life difficult at the minute, but not for the want of trying. So, I will just look after him and we will work with him and try to improve his game.