We caught up with Cameron Harper, ahead of our game against Crewe Alexandra.
Speaking to CUTV, he said: “I’m excited. I think right now everyone wants the games to come thick and fast.
"Normally you're Saturday, Tuesday all the time but we've had a good week training so yeah, we’re looking forward to it.”
Cameron then moved on to discussing recent games, with United unbeaten in four outings.
“I thought the last couple of weeks we've been very dominant in the game, especially first-half.
“I think everyone can see that the boys are really starting to understand what the gaffer and the management team are wanting so I feel like we've been dominating games and controlling it very well and also we've actually been creating a lot more chances than probably months gone by so it's been positive. I think everyone can feel that, the boys certainly feel that and we're raring to go.”
Last Saturday saw us draw 0-0 with Doncaster, but it could’ve been more as Cameron netted in stoppage time, only for his effort to be ruled out for offside.
“I probably can't say it on here but I just couldn't believe it. What a feeling it was for five seconds and then I was right in front of the linesman, and I was just thinking put your flag down.
“I was in disbelief. I didn't actually know who was offside or what he'd given it for and you look back and it's an unbelievable call and you can't really believe he's actually got it right kind of thing and I think that boost would have been massive but we've still felt it.
“We know what it's like. We didn't get the three points for it but it put us in a good place 100%.”
Cameron continued, discussing how much motivation and belief that gives the lads:
“It's massive. I think it all kind of stems from the Wigan game. I feel like the fans were behind us even though we were 2-0 down, they could see what we put into the game and I feel like we've been fairly decent since then.
“So it gives everyone a huge boost and I feel like the way we're controlling games now is giving everyone a bit more confidence.”
We put it to Cameron that the Wigan game, despite being a defeat, did feel like a turning point. He agreed, saying:
“Yeah, 100%. I got a rest that game and I was watching from the bench and you could just feel it as well when watching the game, the lads were outstanding that night and even the fans.
"I think Sam said it in an interview, it was a bit of a surreal moment when they scored their second. We were getting clapped which just shows what all the fans are about and I think that was probably the real turning point but it doesn't mean anything if we don't go and win and add some wins to these performances.”
With a full week of training between Doncaster and Crewe, Cameron discussed what they’d been working on, saying: “A lot of transition stuff, having that counter-press when we lose the ball, can we win it back as quick as possible and then calm the game down, build and then go to attack from there. So there's been a lot of focus on that. Tuesday and Wednesday have been really hard days, pretty tired but it's been good.”
On tomorrow’s opponents, Crewe, who find themselves third in the table and unbeaten in eight league games, Cameron said: “It’ll be a tough game, they all are. Obviously I don't know a lot of teams down here with it being my first season but they've all been tough games.
"I know if we turn up like we have the last few weeks and we keep that focus of everyone being switched on then we can go and win the game.”
Crewe have been going well, and grabbed a late point away to top of the table Port Vale on Monday night, so will arrive in a confident mood.
“It's a massive thing in football; confidence. Like Doncaster, they're a good team and they're up there but I think just seeing what we managed to do to a team up there at the top of the league, I don't feel like our league position shows a true reflection of how we are as a team right now and how we're performing. So we're confident and we'll just go out and focus on ourselves.”
Harper has been operating in midfield in recent weeks, as opposed to his more natural position of left-back.
"I've enjoyed it to be honest, I've played there before up at Inverness so I wouldn't say I'm a centre mid out and out but I know the position, I know quite a few positions, I was quite lucky when I was younger I had an 18s coach, Ryan Esson, that wanted me to learn different positions so I kind of understand what the gaffer and the coaching team want straight away.
“When you're playing in there with Cal as well it kind of makes it a wee bit easier.”
On having the qualities to play in that position, Cameron said: “I feel like I've got quite a good footballing brain as it is so I understand a lot of what they want kind of thing and I would say probably my strengths are good on the ball, keeping it moving and stuff like that and creating stuff, so yeah, it probably does suit me quite a bit but I'm just happy to be playing wherever.”
Finishing with a message for the fans, he said: “Just do the same as what they've been doing the last couple of weeks. They've been brilliant, I think they can see the direction we're going in, we're feeding off it, it helps.
"I mean, I would have loved to have that 90th minute goal or whatever it was last week for them but I think they sense the direction we're going in and they're huge for us, they might not realise it, they might realise it but yeah just keep supporting us.”
