Interim Head Coach Stephen Crainey faced the media after his side extended their unbeaten run with a hard-fought draw away to Morecambe.
Town made it three games unbeaten after keeping their second clean sheet in the last two weeks in the Lancashire derby, meaning his side extend the between them and the drop zone in League One.
Here’s what Stephen had to say:
On the result…
“I thought with the effort the boys put in today we deserved the three points. Especially for a 20/25-minute spell in the second half, I thought we dominated the ball and we just lacked that goal, but it’s something we can work on moving forward, but in terms of the application of the team, they were absolutely brilliant on and off the ball.”
“When you don’t win games of football, you make sure you don’t lose them and that’s what we did today. We keep moving forward, keep training the way we’ve been training, keep playing the way we’ve been playing and keep showing that application daily and things are definitely looking up for us.”
On the clean sheet…
“I think if we showed a bit more composure in the final third, we could have had two or three goals today, but when you aren’t firing in the final third and missing a couple of chances, you make sure to close the door at the other end and I think the lads at the back defended impeccably well.”
“[Tom] Clarke and [Conor] McLaughlin have been excellent since I took interim control and long may it continue. We’ve got a really good blend of young and senior players so once we get things clicking, we’ll win games and I’m sure of that.”
On selection headaches…
“If I didn’t think they could do it, I wouldn’t be putting these lads in the squad, they’ve got top talent and they continue to showcase themselves in league one football. They deserve to be in the team so it’s good selection headaches they’re causing for me, in terms of the experienced players and a good blend of the young lads for the future.”
“Callum’s a good footballer. He’s been at the club a couple of years now so I’ve seen what he can do, not just in games but in training as well and he’s a bonus to have back. Dan Batty will be available for Boxing Day and that’s what I want, I want selection headaches.”
“Whoever is in the team playing at the moment, it’s their shirt to lose. I keep reiterating that to the group and that’s what we’ll be doing in the next few games.”