Macaulay Gillesphey on his first professional goal
Newcastle United loanee Macaulay Gillesphey spoke to us about his first professional goal in the victory over Yeovil Town on Saturday."I wasn't expecting to score," he admitted. "I wasn't too sure what I was supposed to be doing in the box because I'd come on as a sub. I just crept in at the back post and managed to get my head on it, so I was absolutely buzzing.
"I think their smallest man was marking me so that helped a little bit. Mark Ellis said he'd spotted that so he tried to drag the other players away. That worked well because I obviously got the goal.
"I haven't scored in a while but with the few weeks I've had I was absolutely buzzing to score and help the team get the win. We worked hard and it was a real team effort to get back into the game.
"I didn't have a clue what I was doing when I was celebrating to be honest. I haven't scored in ages and I was a bit frustrated about my form, so it was good to let my frustration out and get the goal."
"I wasn't expecting to come on as early as I did but the gaffer knows what he's doing and he made the right decision today," he said. "When we went 2-0 down so early we all thought on the bench that we were definitely going to get back into the game.
"I didn't expect it to be me who he brought on. I thought it would be a striker or a more attacking player because we were losing the game.
"When I got on I thought I did ok and the lads were class. It was nice for the fans to be clapping me onto the pitch. They must like what I'm doing and it's a good feeling when you can hear them. It helps when you're struggling with confidence and they do play a big part for all of us."
"I wasn't expecting to come on as early as I did but the gaffer knows what he's doing and he made the right decision today," he said. "When we went 2-0 down so early we all thought on the bench that we were definitely going to get back into the game.
"I didn't expect it to be me who he brought on. I thought it would be a striker or a more attacking player because we were losing the game.
"When I got on I thought I did ok and the lads were class. It was nice for the fans to be clapping me onto the pitch. They must like what I'm doing and it's a good feeling when you can hear them. It helps when you're struggling with confidence and they do play a big part for all of us."
On his time with the club so far, he said: "It took a while to get used to how much every game matters. It's such a different experience to U21 football but now I've been here a while I'm getting used to it. Week in, week out, you just want to win.
"I think the goal will help me going into the next game. I'm feeling confident but all of the lads we've got are good players, so I'll still have to fight to be in the squad. You can't expect to start, and the lads out there are all good players, so I'll just keep working hard."
"This is a really good place for me to be learning at the moment," he agreed. "To have players like Danny Grainger and Raynesy [Michael Raynes] next to you is important, because they're really good at picking you up.
"The last few weeks have been a real learning curve for me. I'd rather it happen when I'm young because I can learn from it.
"It helps you mentally because you learn how to deal with things like this. The mistake I made against Morecambe was difficult, but you're only as good as your last game and hopefully the fans have realised I'm better than I was in that game.
"I'm looking forward to the FA Cup tie at Plymouth and I hope I'm involved. It will be my first taste of the FA Cup so I don't quite know what to expect."
"I think the goal will help me going into the next game. I'm feeling confident but all of the lads we've got are good players, so I'll still have to fight to be in the squad. You can't expect to start, and the lads out there are all good players, so I'll just keep working hard."
"This is a really good place for me to be learning at the moment," he agreed. "To have players like Danny Grainger and Raynesy [Michael Raynes] next to you is important, because they're really good at picking you up.
"The last few weeks have been a real learning curve for me. I'd rather it happen when I'm young because I can learn from it.
"It helps you mentally because you learn how to deal with things like this. The mistake I made against Morecambe was difficult, but you're only as good as your last game and hopefully the fans have realised I'm better than I was in that game.
"I'm looking forward to the FA Cup tie at Plymouth and I hope I'm involved. It will be my first taste of the FA Cup so I don't quite know what to expect."
United PlayerHD subscribers can see an interview with Macaulay Gillesphey now. Click HERE to go to the PlayerHD platform. Follow the same link for more information on United PlayerHD, and to subscribe.
Click HERE to see a clip from this interview on our YouTube channel. Follow the same link for more FREE content right from the heart of the club.