We spoke to Mike Williamson following our defeat to Notts County.
He began by saying: “It was a disappointing result but I'm really, really proud and pleased with the performance.
“It’s a very, very difficult place to come and I don't think many teams will come here and put a display and a performance on like we did.
“Ultimately, we didn't put the ball in the back of the net. We just couldn't find the goal.
“But, there's so many positives to take. Obviously, when the game opened up, it created a bit of a basketball game but we actually created some good chances that we couldn't finish off.
“But the endeavour, the performance and the quality as well to be able to dominate the ball like we did was really pleasing.
“They’re a very good team. We had to be patient in the first-half especially. We don't like being without the ball but we had to because of the quality that they possess. Obviously, one action, they score the goal and it makes it even harder because then that gives them the freedom just to be patient with it.
“In the second-half, we came out and the energy we outlaid and the desire to want to put them under pressure and just attack, attack, attack and especially in the last 15-20 minutes, it says a lot about the spirit”
Joe Hugill hit the post, in a very good performance from the young striker. Mike spoke about him, saying: “He works his socks off. He doesn't get the recognition for his out-of-possession stuff which is really important for us but, yeah, he worked tirelessly and he created a lot of chances off his own work and endeavour and it will come. It will come good.
“We've just got to take confidence from that. Obviously, not the result we wanted and the boys are in there and they're flat but we haven't got time to feel sorry for ourselves.
"We can't gauge the performance on the scoreboard. We've got to take heart from the weekend, build off that which we felt as though we did today and then go into a tough game on Saturday with that confidence off the back of two good performances.”
County’s goal was scored by the in-form Alassana Jatta, who got on the end of a good cross and finished well. Mike spoke about the goal: “He’s been doing that all season. We'll watch it back and I'm sure there's going to be areas we needed to improve. Obviously, we spoke about contact but there's just sometimes when the ball is there and a six-foot-four striker in form comes and the timing is right.
“There's very little you can do about it sometimes but I thought we limited him because they did have to deal with quite a few crosses in the box but, ultimately, we huffed and puffed at the end and we didn't get the ball in the back of the net.”
Mike made three changes to the starting line-up, we asked him about those, he explained: “There is a bit of an illness going through the squad, really after a win and a good performance, you want to keep the same team but because we've got lads that haven't had the game time that would be vulnerable anyway and as I say, there's a few lads that are unwell.
“We've just had to make changes and freshen it up the best we possibly could to try and spread the minutes.”
Aaron Hayden came off just before half-time, Mike gave us an update on him: “He took a knock and I think he might have to go through a concussion protocol and have to get checked out. He's been checked out by the docs and everything's been okay.
“We'll see how he responds in the next 24-48 hours.”
On Cedwyn Scott, who came off, Mike said: “He came off with cramp. So again, with a slight illness going through, we had to lean on players that probably could have done with a bit of a rest but just the honesty and the resilience to keep running until they can't."
On Stephen Wearne’s absence, Mike added: “He's still ill. Fingers crossed he's taking a turn for the better but we'll just have to wait and see for the weekend.”
On Paul Dummett, who went off early in the game on Saturday, Mike said: “We've had the results. It's not great. So, I think we're just going to have to see a specialist and see what length we're talking about.”
The gap to safety remained at five points, with a huge game coming up on Saturday, Mike spoke further: “We need points 100% and we do everything we possibly can but we can't lose heart in this result because of the performance. We’ve come to Meadow Lane and they're up there for a reason and they consistently dominate 90, 95 minutes of games.
“So, to come here and to put it on them and to have waves and waves of attack was good. We've got lads frustrated that we weren't able to finish it off but it will come.”
With some time still to go until the transfer window closes, Mike gave us an update: "Hopefully we're very close on another. I need to speak to Rob but obviously we want to bring support in for Joe [Hugill] and Cedwyn [Scott] but hopefully we'll be close."
Finally, Mike spoke about the 450+ travelling fans: “They’re incredible.
“It sounded like triple that in numbers, the energy all the way through the game kept the boys going and that makes a difference. I think, like I say, in terms of the load in the tired bodies you could see after the first-half but they were able to maintain it and it's a massive part to do with the fans.”
