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JP
Tell us how you are feeling right now?
GA
Obviously I am really, really pleased and happy for everybody. You know what we have all talked about during a long hard summer and a real tough pre-season, and we have tried to, not promise, you can never do that in football, but try to get a style of football that everybody is looking forward to playing.
We have got a style of football that is nice on the eye at times and it is getting some decent results. So, if you are looking at that then you have got to be really, really pleased with the way things are at the moment.
JP
You must take a lot of credit for today's performance in particular, because Gary Madine is a player you have put a lot of work in with, and Francois Zoko is somebody who you put your head on the block with as a manager bringing him in. Both of those two were almost unplayable today.
GA
But, I am alright with all that sort of stuff, over the period I have been here you look at everything you have got and you work with them day in and day out and you think you sort of know what you need as a back room staff. We make big decisions and we stick by people, we work hard with people and some days with performances like this then generally the players get all the plaudits and deservedly so.
But, Francois is a very good player and Gary is getting better, or seemingly getting better every week. If he can maintain that then we have got a real chance of picking up really good results. We are pleased with everybody today but I think those two were outstanding.
JP
And very much involved, I had Gary Madine as either assisting or certainly being involved with every goal, including the one he clearly scored today. But, the team has to get them in those positions to score the goals.
GA
Yeah, we have got a nice platform to be solid enough at the back and allow our forward players to hurt the opposition. Francois' quality in the final third and Gary's strength and his aerial threat, and Craig (Curran's) willingness to work puts teams under pressure and causes problems.
Today we have probably got it right, we looked reasonably solid defensively for most of the game and in an attacking sense there was probably a 20 minute spell either side of half-time where I thought we were really, really excellent.
JP
These are a fancied team though, they had a great win on the opening day of the season away at Walsall. How did you make it so comprehensive today?
GA
Well, the players go out there and work as hard as we can. We think we have got a good base to defend and be solid from and we have got players there that can hurt the opposition, and at the minute they are doing that. But, there is a tremendous amount of work going into the performance and the players are working exceptionally hard and that is the key.
The work ethic around the club and the positiveness around the club is absolutely excellent. It gives you a good comfortable feel for when the players go across the white line that they will do the things you have been asking, and up to press they have done.
JP
Your back four was in good form again today, but in particular that man Ian Harte. Just got a new contract, we are told he is going to be an ambassador for the club as well, and Jeff (Thorpe) was keen to point out today just what a good season he was having in terms of his defensive work as well as those goals.
GA
Well, people talk about his goals, I'd rather talk about the defensive side of his game. He is in my team to stop goals and if he can do that then he is worth his weight in gold, the goals for me are always a bonus.
But, he deserves his contract because he has done exceptionally well last year and he has been terrific as we started this pre-season and then the early games. So, I like good people on my side and he is certainly a good person to have there.
JP
Can you just clarify what "with the option" means? Two fans have asked me this today, so when you say he has got a deal to the end of next season with the option of a further year, does that mean he has got the option for a further year or you have?
GA
No, if he plays a certain amount of games next season he can trigger that contract and so can we. So, it is to make sure that we are guarded against a long-term injury or something like that. But, I think Ian would see his career out to be fair, he may be one of them. But, just that third one gives a little bit of protection to both parties, but I am hoping he plays and he signs it and he is here for three years because he is a good player.
JP
He certainly is, next up for you, not quite a week, it is a Friday night match away at Colchester, I am sure the fans will look forward to that trip of a Friday evening after a long hard week of work, what about yourselves?
GA
Yeah, well, we just get on with that, we know what we have to do in terms of travelling. We will prepare for it like we always do and hopefully we can keep this momentum and this confidence going and get another good performance out of it.
JP
Then you will have an eight day break ahead of Swindon, after a performance like today and after the start to the season that you have had, perhaps with another positive performance on Friday, would it be nice to see just a few more through the gates for your next one?
GA
Yeah, we are all looking for that but listen, all we can do out there is try to get results and play good football. We know that times are hard with the money but I am sure if people see us getting a run of results then they will come back.
The area wants a successful football team, every town does, and it won't take long if we can keep producing performances like that and getting results as well, that the fans will come through the gates. But, it is something that we would love to see and a buzz in Brunton Park with 8,000 or 9,000 every week is a great place to be.
JP
It certainly is, any injuries coming out of today's game?
GA
No, we are fine, genuinely when you win 4-1 you are OK and we will be alright.
JP
And final question I promise, in the build-up to this one Karl Robinson was bold enough as manager to say they were coming here looking for revenge. I saw you having a quick chat with him after the game, what was he saying?
GA
I tried to keep him on the pitch really, I have had my fair shares of troubles. But, I think he appreciated that and he wanted to thank me that I said to the fourth official (Richard Clark) to try to just look the other side of what he has done and that he was frustrated. He just thanked me for that and said that he would have a beer with me.
Listen, management you get your ups and downs and he will go through that. He is young at it as I have only been it such a short amount of time. But, you have to take the tough times on your chin and enjoy the good. So, tonight we will have a crack with him but he was genuinely OK with it.