MIKE WILLIAMSON SPEAKING AFTER THE SWINDON VICTORY

Following our win against Swindon Town, we spoke to Mike Williamson.

Assessing the contest, he said: “It was a perfect result. Just said to the boys after that, you know, the ingredients they've shown in that game, I don't think you can buy the desire just to put your bodies on the line.

“We were in a low block for quite a lot of that. But yeah, the attitude, the mentality was different class.

“The heart and the endeavour was brilliant and we'll only get better. So yeah, really, really pleased for the boys.

“They fully deserved the result, even though on the face of the game, you know, I think we rode our luck.

“The boys have just bought into everything. The staff have been absolutely fantastic. And to just, like I say, just grind it like they did. It was tough.

“You could see boys were cramping up, but they never gave up. They never dropped their heads, their body language stayed really positive. And I think, you know, on another day, we could have made a few better decisions and it could have created a few more entries into their six-yard box.

“So many positives to take away and pleased for the guys and the fans. The fans were phenomenal. You could hear them all game.

“I'm really pleased. I'm not sure if we got a bit of luck for the first goal. I didn't know who scored, but the delivery was brilliant.

“We've got boys who want to head the ball. And I think that's the special ingredient and that was defending as well. 

“I mean, we defended from the front, the amount of distance that those boys covered at the front. We know we need to be better in terms of being able to stop them at source and stepping on but that’s after a day and a half.” 

On Luke Armstrong’s performance, Mike said: “I've never seen somebody run as hard as him and he's not changed since I played with him when he was a kid. He really, really deserved that. And I thought all the boys that came off the bench, I thought they made a really good impact as well, which is also pleasing.

“We rode our luck. We did. Harry made some made some big saves, but also the boys threw their bodies on the line again.

“But we will get better. And the pleasing thing is right now we just needed the momentum to change and to get that win. And then we can get back to the training ground on Monday and start working on our improvement.

“The fans are on another level from what I've experienced before. They were really brilliant. They came out, you could hear them. They drove the lads on again. There were a lot of tired bodies out there. The sun's come out. It was hot, but the fans drove them on.” 

We also asked the gaffer about Aaron Hayden and Terell Thomas’ injuries, he said: “Hopefully Terell will be back soon and Aaron will be a few more weeks after that. I think he’s tweaked his calf.”

Ahead of Tuesday’s Central League Cup game against Blackburn, he said: “We’ve got to assess it really. Obviously, we've just come through the door.

“There's so many things that we're trying to look at again. We picked a team today, might have been harsh on a few lads, but we're just getting to know the group. And that's what we'll have to do with that.

“Obviously, it's an opportunity to see some of the young lads as well, get minutes under people's belts. But I think the boys that played today might need a rest.”