Robson on his season opener
Matt Robson opened his account for the season with a first half goal on Saturday which was enough to see United through to the second round of this season’s Capital One Cup competition.
We caught up with him afterwards to talk about the game … and his goal.
He said: “This possibly wasn’t the finished performance we wanted but we’d have taken it if you’d told us we’d get off to a winning start and keep a clean sheet.
“I don’t think we reached the standards we set ourselves in pre-season because we’ve played some terrific football at times over the last few weeks.”
“The conditions out there were really tough but it was the same for both teams and it does take a lot of energy out of you,” he added. “Having said that we probably could have been two or three up with the chances we created in the first half, but the keeper made a couple of decent saves. We opened them up a couple of times after the break as well, but we know we can be better.”
And on his return to action on the left flank, he told us: “I’m back in the position I was brought here to play after being at left back for the past year or so. I enjoyed that but I like this role as well and, to be honest, it’s just good to be in the team for the first game, wherever you play.
“It’s pleasing that the gaffer believes I can do a job wide on the left and it’s very good to be able to chip in with a goal. There’s competition for places right through the team and that’s good for all of us. There are a couple of people chomping at the bit to start in this position so it’s up to me to keep the shirt.”
“Alessio [Bugno] has come in and he has been fantastic,” he added. “He has great energy and enthusiasm and hopefully he’ll continue to adapt to this level of football. It’s nice having him behind me because he’s got good recovery and we seem to work well.”
When pressed on the quality of the goal and its right to be labelled as an early goal of the season contender, he said: “I wouldn’t go that far. It’s not a bad goal to start with but the most pleasing thing is that we’ve got a win.”
“I moved across once I saw James Berrett get the ball and I could hear Nobs [Liam Noble] – mind you, I can always hear Nobs, wherever he is – and he asked for me to step over it. I knew I had a bit of space and as soon as I opened up I used the defender as a wall. The keeper was unsighted so I bent it round him and it went right into the top corner. It was a nice moment.”
“You always look for a win from your first competitive game and it’s something we can take into next weekend,” he continued. “We’re due a cup run as well so hopefully we’ll get a decent draw later in the week.
“However, our bread and butter is the league and Stevenage could prove to be one of the toughest games of the season. We know we’re not going to get the chances if we make the same kind of mistakes in possession as we made in this one. They’re very physical but that’s this level of football. We just want to right the wrongs from this first game and try to make sure we get ourselves on a run.”
United Player subscribers can see a video interview with Matt Robson later today. To find out more about United Player, and to subscribe, click HERE.