MANAGER: A good game between two committed teams

“Leyton Orient are a team that will replicate their manager,” he said. “People who know Andy Hessenthaler will know they'll be aggressive and combative. He won't give anything away, as we both found out when we were up in front of the FA after our encounter on the touchline last season!

“We had a nice day out at Wembley but we made sure we had a man hug afterwards. I'm going to do my best not to contribute towards the FA fund this season. I've told my staff they need to make sure I don't get into trouble otherwise they'll be paying my fine.” 

“Leyton Orient like to defend narrow and deep so we need to get people into the wide areas quickly,” he told us. “If people take a backwards step and want to defend their box then that's an invitation to get players into the box. If the ball is right and the run is right then it presents us with a good opportunity to score goals. 

“Orient are a good side who will do everything to stop us from playing, and we know they can use it if we don’t do our jobs. It will be a good game between two committed teams who want to take the points.”

“As I’ve said before, we’re pleased with where we are but there’s still work to be done because we aren't keeping clean sheets,” He commented. “We've always got a level of respect, which means we will identify the strengths of the opposition, but a lot of our work is done on breaking down the other team. 

“We know people aren't going to come to Brunton Park and have a game of football. They're going to come here to frustrate and try and quieten the crowd. It's all well and good to have that game plan, apart from when we score first. 

“If that happens teams will have to go to plan B and come out and try and play football. Our challenge is to keep a clean sheet and be a goal threat without being too open and expansive. When we're knocking on the door, if we take the chances we will turn draws into victories.” 

“There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to implement the playing style that people want to come and watch,” he said. “I'm very respectful of the fact that people are paying good money and they want to see the game played in the right way. Our fans want to be entertained and see the ball on the floor, with plenty of goal mouth action. 

“The focus for everybody is very much on what's on the pitch at the moment, which is pleasing. That shows good direction from not only the football department, but also from the football club. People are coming more and more - we had over 5,000 last week with very little away support from Accrington. 

“The word is spreading and people are appreciating the football we're playing. People are talking about the players we've got now rather than players who used to be here and that shows we’re improving on what we had.”

“It was nice to hear the Paddock shouting at the referee and the opposition manager rather than me last week,” he joked. “I want it to be a case of when we get beat, it is a ‘we’. If things don't go our way, it's ‘ours’ and not just mine. 

“We're all involved in us getting points, sometimes that's through booing the opposition manager and sometimes it's making sure that the referee knows that in our opinion he's made a bad decision. It's important that when the players do something well it's appreciated. The support the crowd give our players is fantastic and I’m sure that will continue with the way we are playing our football at the moment.”