We spoke to Jordan Jones following the Accrington victory at Brunton Park on Sunday.
“It's three points. We were obviously desperate before the game to get that result, no matter what it looked like.
“To get that win and show the character that we did is obviously a big relief. It's a fantastic feeling being in the dressing room with the lads because going into the game we knew it was going to be difficult, we knew it was going to be a difficult atmosphere, but I thought every player stood up as a man today and was counted, and I'm very proud of the squad.”
“I thought we all stood up, all showed great character. It wasn't the prettiest win, but it was never going to be. But we got the all-important three points, so we’re delighted.”
Jones led the team out as skipper on Sunday following the injury to Sam Lavelle, and we asked him what that meant on a personal level after a stop-start season so far: “It has been a bit of stop-start.
“I'd obviously had no pre-season and then come in and picked up an injury just as I was starting to feel good. I was out for 10 weeks, but I've worked hard and it was an honour to captain the club and an honour to captain the boys, so really good feeling, and like you say, to get the win as well, it's extra special.”
We then went on to ask about the relationship on the right with Kadeem Harris after both were heavily involved in United’s play against Accrington: “I thought he was excellent today. He's a top player and a top lad as well, so it was very good to see him out there today and getting the goal and being the attacking threat that he is.”
JJ played the game as a right wing-back, and we asked him how he found it: “It is a bit different, but I spent a lot of time at wing-back last season, so I am used to it. Today was just all about winning and we’re just delighted to get the three points. It's one of them games where, you know, it looked like everything was starting to click and come into gear.
“The manager has been brilliant since he's come in, to be honest, with the lads and all his staff. He's obviously trying to raise standards around the club and every department, and that's going to take time. We understand there's been frustrations and we've got to take responsibility as players because it's us that are going out there every week and delivering performances.
“In terms of the Morecambe game, we fully understand the frustration from the fans, but we've got to take responsibility because the manager and the staff are giving us game plans every week for us to go and execute and some weeks we haven't executed it properly.
“We've got to take responsibility, but I think you're seeing today the character and the fight from all the lads that everyone is fully with the manager. We understand frustrations, but if you stick with us, I'm sure we're going to turn this around.”
Luke Armstrong got the winner, and JJ commented on how important that was for the striker: “It was brilliant for Luke to get the goal. I thought he worked so hard all day. I thought he was a nightmare for the defenders. Like any striker, he wants to get that goal and it ends up winning us the game. I'm delighted for him.
Jordan then commented on the feeling at full time after a tough period: “I just felt knackered and relieved, to be honest. Like I say, football's full of ups and downs.
“You experience that throughout your career. At the moment we were in a really tough period, especially after the last game. We had a really difficult couple of days, but to show the character and the fight that we did today to bounce back and get that three points is massive.
“There's young lads in that dressing room who have never really experienced anything like that, but it'll stand them in good stead for the rest of their career because when there's adversity like that, it's about how you stick your chest out and go again. I felt like every player did that today. I'm very proud of all the lads and delighted that we got the three points for the fans and the manager.
“I think it's got to come from us. I understand football, we understand the fans, we understand the frustrations and, like I say, that's on us. Today I feel like they've watched a team who are fighting for each other and they're showing character, and they've come with us at the end of the day. You know, we could feel that from the crowd straight from the off and obviously it helps when we score, but even when the opposition scored today, the fans cheered us on and stuck with us.
“It does really help and we understand the frustrations but the only way to get out of the situation we're in is together. Fans, players, staff, everyone to do with the club. There is only one way out and that's to work hard and stick together and when you start winning games things start taking care of themselves.
“We've got to use this now as a platform to kick on and I'm determined to do that. We need to enjoy this win today because we worked so hard to get that.
“We obviously come off the Port Vale away game feeling really good and then we've let ourselves down the last performance but, like I say, I think we need to enjoy today because to turn it around and show the character we did in the environment, I felt it was a really big performance from everyone today and then our focus will switch onto the next game and we'll have a game plan going into it and, like I say, it's down to us to execute that and get us another three points.”
