Manager urges fans to get behind his side once again
Town manager Graham Alexander has urged the Highbury faithful to get behind his side once again this weekend when they entertain Notts County.The boss believes that the atmosphere created during the Club’s last home game against Peterborough a fortnight ago spurred his players on.
And he now hopes the supporters can continue to make Highbury an intimidating venue to come to with only eight home league fixtures remaining.
Ahead of the game, Alexander said: “The atmosphere for our last home game was superb, and I thought the fans responded to the way the players played.
“Supporters of any club have a massive role to play in football. The whole world of football revolves around footballers and football fans, and that’s the two most important aspects of football.
“Without one there wouldn’t be the other, and we feel in general our supporters over the last 18 months or so have been superb and really backed us.
“We’ve had some tough times along the way but they’ve always stuck with us, and the atmosphere did go up a notch without a doubt against Peterborough.
“Like I say, I think they really responded to the way we approached the game and played on the front foot, and that’s what we have to do at home all the time.
“When we do play on the front foot we look a better team, and supporters will always respond to players giving it everything they’ve got.
“Fans appreciate hard work and they appreciate full commitment, so as long as we as a group of professionals provide that for them then they’ll always back us.
“We obviously followed the Peterborough fixture up with two away games. We picked up a superb result at Barnsley, but then we had the disappointment of Crewe.
“We want to get back on the winning trail and are looking to do that as soon as possible, with Saturday the next opportunity to do that.”
Alexander was left disappointed after last week’s reverse at Crewe Alexandra, and is now hoping for a reaction from his players against County.
“What we have with this group of players is that they very rarely have a different opinion of the game from us.
“They’re very honest and very knowledgeable, and accept when they haven’t performed to the levels expected of them.
“In the first half last week we played very well but just didn’t take the opportunities we created, but the second half was the real disappointment for us as a group,
“We didn’t really respond in the way we’d have liked to, but this group always gives it their best shot.
“Sometimes it doesn’t work but they will always continue to work hard and give of their best.”