Three appearances, two assists and a goal (bagged on his first start for his new club) isn’t a bad return at all from new arrival Jordan Gibson, with the wide man adding to the sense of having had a good day at the office when he picked up the vestawealth man-of-the-match award for his Saturday afternoon endeavours.
A further added bonus for the 23-year-old playmaker was that his mum was in the crowd to witness it all, having made the journey up north to see her son play for the Cumbrians for her first time.
“I was delighted when I got the goal because my mum came up to watch the game, and she’s very proud,” he revealed. “It’s good to know that I’ve made her feel that, that’s a great feeling for me.
“But when it went in it really was just about trying to get the second goal. I couldn’t celebrate for too long because we needed to get the job done.
“I didn’t see the ball until late, to be honest, it came off a defender and that was when I saw it. I had a similar position at the last home game, but the keeper saved it, so I struck it the same way and luckily it’s gone between the defender’s legs and into the bottom corner.
“The keeper tried to get down so it was good to see it go in. Like I say, we were still losing the game and it was about getting the ball back and putting it on the centre circle.
“We wanted the second goal at that stage and that’s what we did. Hopefully next time I score I can enjoy it a bit more.”
And he admitted that what happened with the last move of the game felt even better than when he’d opened his account for the club, just over ten minutes earlier.
“The cross was just where I wanted to put it,” he joked. “Nah, I just put it into an area and Brennan’s done really well to get above his man and head it in.
“I think I enjoyed that a bit more than the goal because it meant we got the point. The goal kickstarted our way to that, which is also good, and that’s why I’m happy.
“The gaffer has told Brennan to get in at the back post and, being honest, the cross was a little too deep for what I wanted. Brennan did very well to get above his man and it was a good goal in the end.
“I just thought if I put a ball in the box then there will be players in there to attack it, and that’s how it went.”
His first start for the club served as a reminder of what League Two can be like, with all sorts going on and nothing ever certain until it’s certain, as demonstrated by another game of two halves.
“The first half wasn’t good enough from myself or from the rest of the team,” he admitted. “At 2-0 down with 10 minutes to go, I’m just pleased that I managed to get a goal and assist to help us get a point from the game.
“Overall we’re not too happy with the performance so we have to make sure we go again but be much better next week.
“We know the way we’re starting games isn’t good enough. We go out there to put on a performance and the gaffer reminded us before the game about having the right attitude, intensity and energy, and we didn’t do that.
“That really isn’t good enough, we let ourselves down and we let the gaffer down. We had to show we had a bit about us after the break and it was good character to do what we did.
“We all know we should be better and not going behind like we are to begin with. It’s disappointing but we’ll take the point and move on.
“You can’t really put a finger on why this is happening to be honest. No one goes out there to be off the pace of the game, and there were too many moments where we were sloppy and they got on top of us.
“That’s why they got their goals and the leg-up they needed. It’s down to us as players to sort this out, because it happened in the first half here and in the games before that.”
“We needed to be more positive in the second half, and we were, so it was important to get something for that,” he continued. “When you’re behind like we were you need goals, that’s obvious, and it’s another reminder of why we need to start games better.
“But if you are two goals down and you can’t win it, make sure you get the point. When you don’t win a game you want the next game to come around quickly. We want to be back out there and working towards getting a positive result at Sutton.
“We all know as we’re going up the tunnel at half time that it isn’t good enough, so there’s not too much that needs to be said. It’s something we need sort out.
“It’s down to us as players to get this right. The gaffer and Gav have worked hard all week to give us the best platform to go and perform. It’s down to us, they can’t play for us, so we have to get it right by doing things properly from the off.”
With him having collected the match day star man champagne, he confirmed that getting his start was something he’d felt more than ready for.
“When I found out I was starting it was obviously then down to me to put on a performance and to try to get goals and assists,” he explained. “I’m at an age, as I’ve said before, where I want to showcase myself, and goals and assists are my game. I’m really happy whenever I contribute.
“I had games over in Ireland and got goals and assists, and I had the confidence to come in and do that here. I’ve done that so far, but I need to keep going. It’s no good doing it one week and not the next.
“I need to consistently produce goals and assists and then I’ll be really happy. That’s what I’m going to try to do.
“It’s not easy to come into a team five or six games into the season where the team is set, and you have to make an impact off the bench and prove your worth. I’ve got in quite early, three games in, and it’s about staying in the team now.
“We’ve got a big squad, a lot of competition, and if you don’t perform you won’t be in there. It’s all about me staying there now.
“I feel like I’ve settled, and I knew Joe Riley, Callum Guy and Kelvin Mellor before I came, so that helped. I feel like I’m part of the team now and hopefully I can really bed in.
“I’m still getting to know the gaffer’s philosophy and how he wants me to play and influence the game, but I’m feeling like I’m doing that and hopefully I can keep going.”
Click HERE to watch an interview with Jordan Gibson on iFollow United now.
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.