INTERVIEW: I liked the role I had

Midfielder Mo Sagaf was right up there with a number of his team mates when it came to the man-of-the-match reckoning at Newport, but he was very reflective and composed when it came to talking about the defeat shortly after the game had concluded.

“There’s really nothing much to say other than we have to start again and prepare for our next game,” he said. “It was unfortunate about the result ... just unlucky in the last minute. It happens sometimes.

“That’s the beauty of the game. Sometimes it doesn’t go your way and sometimes it does. You just have to keep your head up and see how it goes for the next game.

“To be honest, it was a good goal, the keeper can’t do anything about that. It was a brilliant shot, outstanding. Hopefully we take this and move on for the next game.”

“We could have beaten them,” he added. “We had more chances than them but that’s football – one shot, one goal. It’s heartbreaking but it’s part of football. We tried to defend as a unit, Jonesy dictated the game, players were driving forwards, hopefully the same formation on Saturday will get us a result.

“The good thing is that there are a lot of positives there. We worked hard, defended and attacked as a unit, we knew when to hit it long and when to play, that’s positive. There’s a long way to go in the season so hopefully that will help us pick up more points.

“We need to take this as a lesson for the next game and hopefully then we’ll get three points. Mentality wise, we were way better than them, so to lose the way we did, we’re all disappointed to be honest. But at the same time we’ll learn from it.”

On his own performance, he told us: “I think I did well but I think every player did well. The players that started and the subs were outstanding in their performances.

“I liked the role I had and wherever the gaffer puts you, you have to play. It’s part of football. When I get minutes, I don’t really mind where the gaffer puts me - right-back, left-back, I will do a job, as long as I get to play and help the team out.

“The manager we have is a very tactical manager, so I learn a lot from him. He’s improving parts of my game tactical-wise, where to be, where not to be. The longer I play the more I learn from him.

“Football is all about confidence. If you have confidence and self-belief, you can show a lot in the game. I’m feeling really confident at the moment.”

Next up for the Cumbrians is the visit of Crewe on Saturday.

“Hopefully we’ll get the result we want and, with more games coming up, we’ll climb up the ladder,” he said. “To be honest we can beat any team in the league.

“It comes down to the 90 minutes and who wants it more. If they want it more than us there is a chance of them beating us. They can be top three, whatever, it doesn’t matter. It’s about what we do on the pitch.”

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