INTERVIEW: A growing up process

“The win was excellent on Tuesday night and it was very important to continue the way we left off against Bradford,” he said. “I think it’s something we’ve been wanting to do. We’ve been looking for a run of results which will enable us to pull away from the bottom group of teams. The lads went there and put in a massive shift and we deserved the win in the end.”

“It’s the type of performance which has been coming for a while,” he agreed. “In the recent games we’ve played we’ve certainly been involved and the performances have been there, even if we’ve come out of it with a negative result.

“It’s something that’s been waiting to happen and on Tuesday it sort of knit together. I think there’s a performance in there where there’s going to be a glut of goals coming from us. We’re creating the opportunities and chances so I think it will happen.”

And with United’s home form strong this season, the visit of Rotherham presents a second opportunity of the season for United to post three wins in a row.

“At home is where you should be looking to gain the majority of your points,” he said. “The next two are against really good sides who are on good runs themselves, so it won’t be easy. I think Brentford have gone 19 unbeaten so we know they’re going to pose a massive threat. Rotherham is obviously first up and I think their away form is better than their home form. It’s going to be tough but they’re certainly games where we believe we’ve got a chance of getting all six points.”

“We’re all working well together as a group and we’ve said before that the senior members have to play a part in that,” he continued. “I think it’s part of the growing up process as you go through your footballing career. 

“Ten years ago I was looking up to players my age who had been there and done it. If ever there was a question you’d go to your senior member of the team, so I’m sort of learning that role and it’s something I’m enjoying doing. 

“It’s good to see the young boys coming through. Some of them are obviously a bit shy in coming to you and asking questions but it’s something they’ll adapt to. I still look up to the older boys in our team with the likes of Paul Thirlwell, Sean O’Hanlon and Pascal Chimbonda, but they’ve got a couple of years on me. There’s Lee Miller as well, so if a question needs to be asked, that’s where I go. 

“And it’s really pleasing when you see the younger lads start to enjoy their football. Sam [Byrne] is a good example of that. He’s come off the bench a few times and he’s one who has a real willingness to create chances for himself. I think he’d only been on the pitch two minutes and he scored. That’s great to see.”

“Our focus is on Saturday and three points so that we build on the good work we’ve done,” he concluded. “Obviously they’ll have Adam Collin in goal but I’m hoping he doesn’t have a happy return. It’ll be good to see him but hopefully he won’t be too happy after the game because we’ll have the three points and we’ll have put a few past him.”