Harrogate Town AFC

Watch the Gaffer's pre Walsall interview here…
 


The Gaffer on our Second Round FA Cup tie vs Portsmouth…

It's a tough one but it's a game that we're really looking forward to. It's a big atmosphere at Fratton Park and they always get the bell going at one end of the goals and they're a real partisan support. We expect to go down in good spirit and have a really good go.

On taking the positives from Tuesday's defeat against Sheffield Wednesday…

The score line probably did flatter them. We've had a lot of praise from Wednesday people and from our supporters because of the attacking style of play, and we don't want to change that. We want to create chances and to excite.

The passing was outstanding on the night, but the score line wasn't and it's something obviously we reflected upon and showed clips to players where we think we could have been a bit more solid but nothing's broken.

There's no damage done to either team because obviously both have gone through to the next round of the Papa John's Trophy. We can look back on last Saturday as well with great pride because it was a very good win against Wrexham.

On the fitness of Jack Muldoon, Lloyd Kerry and Luke Armstrong…

They're close but whether they're close enough to be selected is another thing. We'll have to make a late call and a late fitness tests on all of them.

On Walsall…

Yeah, it's a tough one. I think their new manager Matthew Taylor in the summer has really implemented his way of playing now. They're solid and big across the back, got centre midfielders who like to get on it and they have good movement ahead of them. It'll be a tough game against a team in form but we're looking forward to it buoyed by the attacking performances from the other night and obviously after finding a way to win against Wrexham last Saturday.

On the need to be defensively solid this weekend…

Bit by bit we're working at it. Obviously, I was frustrated after the game the other night because you never want to lose any game and certainly not by that kind of score line. However, I think it sets expectations that we keep driving forward and keep wanting to get better. We expect a lot from the lads because they're all capable.

On the message to the group…

Play our way and set out our stall with energy. We know every player out there knows the roles, but we'll keep ingraining it into them with the sessions we do.

#ProudToBeTown