Harrogate Town AFC

Watch the Gaffer's pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday's trip up to Carlisle…
 

 
The Gaffer on Connor Kirby going out on loan…

We had a good and frank conversation the other day about it. Altrincham have come in for him and asked to take him on loan. Connor was happy to take the opportunity, he's found games hard to come by this season.

He's a great lad and trained well but he's not in front of the other centre midfielders at the moment. He's a hungry player who wants to play games and I admire that, Altrincham will be a good club for him.

On conceding goals early in the second-half…

It's hard to pinpoint other than switching off in the 15 minute interval after playing with such intensity during the first half, which is what we do and what we're about. We close down fast, work hard, pass at tempo.

We've got to be better at restarting the engine in the second half, there's no doubt about it as we're in a run of conceding poor goals at the start of the second half.

On the type of goals we've been conceding…

There were a couple of good team goals against us when we played Scunthorpe at their place, as well as a formidable strike. There weren't many that we can't look at after and say we couldn't have avoided. It's a work in progress.

The vast majority of the team have played most of their careers two divisions below where we are now. That's not belittling them, they've actually done brilliantly for the large parts. It's work in progress, we've got to be better in the organisation part of things because that's key in sorting things right at the source.

We've got to be a bit more street wise. When we get it right we're hard to play through and there were some good examples that we've shown to the players this morning. There's also chances we concede where we've been a bit naive and nice. We've got to do something about it.

On whether their could be rotation in the next two games…

Yeah players could be rested and rotated. We've got two games coming up, the second of which is played next Friday so there will be opportunities for players to come in stake their claim.  

On whether bad weather and Covid in January has hindered Carlisle's promotion hopes…

Yeah that month without games definitely affected them. They were right at the top before they had to stop and Covid really blighted their squad, along with other injuries.

You've got to feel for them as they were really going strong and a month without games for any team would hinder the chances of carrying on momentum. They're still a very good squad and a real force this season.  

On looking forward to Saturday…

It's an opportunity to see a good football match between two teams which like to play some good football. It's a big, open park and we know they're a big, physical team.

We'll have to defend set pieces well, defend the first ball well and have the centre halves being forceful in winning the first ball, as well being well organised in our set up and being really compact. It is an opportunity on a big, nice pitch to get the ball down and play.

As the pitches have improved, it's given us an opportunity to look a lot more like us when we're playing well.  

#ProudToBeTown