Head Coach Simon Grayson spoke to the club after his side came away 2-1 winners over Sky Bet Championship side Huddersfield Town on the return to Highbury on Tuesday.
The Cods started out the game strong as they managed to work themselves a lead just five minutes into the game as Jay Matete’s pass found Shayden Morris, who drilled his strike home. Soon after, Ged Garner made it two when his acrobatic finish, beating the Huddersfield goalkeeper from close range.
Here’s what the gaffer had to say in his post-match interview:
On the team’s performance…
“It’s great to be back at Highbury and to have supporters here for the first time in so long, we are delighted with the result, but that’s not the first thing you pay attention too, we’re focusing on the way we played and how the players are implementing the ideas we have worked on both offensively and defensively.
“If you get a positive result against a championship side like we have then we can be very pleased where it also felt really good having the fans behind us because we gave them something to cheer about, especially the first half where we passed the ball really well.
“It was a strange feeling having the supporters back at Highbury, it’s great to have them all back and we’re all looking forward to the first game of the season now.”
On individual performances…
“We used a new set-up today which allowed Shayden Morris the freedom to go forward, as well as Paddy Lane on the opposite side and I thought in the first half we played really well, Danny Andrew also hit the post from a superb free-kick where to be 2-0 up at half time was really pleasing.
“We attacked really well where on the other end as well we kept a lot of their players quiet, the second half was quite different, but we had to show a different side to our game as there is two sides to a football match and we showed individually and as a unit we can do both today as tonight was a really good test.”
On the youngster’s responsibilities…
“They were all alert today, in the second half they had numerous opportunities where they had lots of corners where we haven’t even worked on set pieces yet, so it was really good to see they have taken the responsibility upon themselves to deal with those situations, for such a young group it was pleasing to see.
“Our two goals from youngsters were slightly different, Shayden has ran a half of the pitch and it’s a great strike from him where that’s what he is capable of doing as no one will like defending against that- for the second goal Ged Garner has used his strength well and worked off Tom Clarke’s flick on to put the ball in the back of the net- our free flowing attractive football paid off.”