Harrogate Town AFC

Watch the Gaffer's pre-match chat ahead of Saturday's trip to Port Vale…

 
 
The Gaffer reflecting on last Friday's draw with Newport County…

It was banging and a great atmosphere. The players really enjoyed it and so did we as coaching staff. It always makes you feel better even coming out during the warm up seeing the terraces being filled and hopefully that's a sign of things to come as well. Overall, we were pleased with the energy and edge we played with. Everybody played their part. Nobody was under par, there were just two moments where we've got to switch on as a group a bit better.

On the reaction to going behind in recent games…

I think we've proven so far that every time we've had a disappointment in games, we've bounced back with hunger and desire. I felt that when looking at the body language over the players, nobody is sulking, readjusting their socks and taking time out feeling sorry for themselves, it's instead ‘right we have to make up for it now'.

On whether there'll be squad rotation with two away games in quick succession…

Quite possibly. It'll depend on the energy of the players throughout Saturday and whether they tire. We'll have to look after them and we're aiming for energy that's for sure. We've had a good week of training and the lads had last weekend off and spent some time together which is good. We're expecting a really energetic performance.  

On analysing Port Vale…

They look really solid to me. We've watched all the games and I think they'll be there or there abouts. Under Darrel Clarke, he's a winner and sets up his teams to be really organised defensively so it'll be hard to prize them open, but we have to show patience and a real desire to defend their balls into the box because they're a threat.

They're experienced up front and throughout their team. They're a handful so we've got to make sure we're on form on the day.

On memories of last season's trip to Vale Park…

I think for people streamed it last year it was one of the most dower games of the season but with fans in it'll generate an atmosphere. We'll be taking a couple coaches of fans and I think that'll help. Hopefully it's a bit more entertaining for the neutral but that game was a useful point. We'll be aiming to play our style and hopefully produce a good attacking performance but also be switched on defensively.

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