Due to international call-ups, tomorrow’s game against Barnsley was postponed which leaves United with a ten-day break between games.
Manager Paul Simpson explained that he will be using the time to do extra work to prepare for next Saturday’s home match against Charlton.
“It’s not a break, we’ll be working, but it’s really good to go into this period on the back of a win,” he told us. “We’re going to use the opportunity to work if we can, with the amount of rain we’ve had we’re not sure where we’re going to be able to train.
“Thursday and Friday will definitely be work days, and probably Saturday as well. If we can get a surface, because of the amount of rain we’ve had I dread to think what our training pitch is like, and I know Gretna is booked up until Saturday afternoon, so that’s out.
“We’ll then start building up for next week where all the talk is that it’s going to be an exciting day. Hopefully we can get a group of players together who are going to rise to the occasion for what hopefully will be a real celebration day. The most important thing is that we get a result.”
“I love games of football but I’ve got to tell you, I’m delighted the game’s off on Saturday,” he admitted. “We’ve got to try and regroup a little bit, we’ve got to try and have a little bit of work on the grass, get them freshened up but keep them working as well, and on Monday we’ll really start our preparation for Charlton.
“I don’t think we’ll have any of the longer-term injuries back with us but I’d like to think Sean and Mox will be back into training and able to join the group.
“I think the way I am I always sort of reflect and assess how we’re going. The truth of the matter is, the assessment is we’re not doing as well as I want us to do. That’s us as staff as well. We’ve all got to improve to get results. We will rally round the players and hope the Harrogate result will give us a little bit of a boost going into the next game.
“From what I’m told there’s a lot of exciting things to come between now and the Charlton game, everything seems to be building up to that and we’re going to have to make sure we’re in a position to deal with that game properly, ride the wave of excitement of whatever’s going to come, and hopefully get a result and performance that keeps everyone happy.
“I keep saying we have to make the performances exciting, we’ve got to get results to excite people. There’s no point having loads of noise going on the outside and we’re not making the noise ourselves on the football side. We want to do that, to try and marry the two things together. I do think with what’s being spoken about, the future is really bright for the football club and we’ve got to make the football really bright as well.
“I’m saying to the players, there’s exciting times ahead, you’ve got to step up a level to make sure we’re all still a part of it. Football changes really quickly, that’s in management as well, it can really change quickly.
"I want to be part of it, I want the players to show they want to be part of it because we are going to be in a position where we’re going to be able to strengthen the group. Whether that’s as free agents at the moment or be it the transfer window, but we’re all going hell for leather to try and put a team out on the pitch that the supporters can be proud of."