Head Coach Simon Grayson sat down with the media at Poolfoot Farm on Thursday afternoon and previewed Fleetwood Town’s Sky Bet League One clash against Rotherham United.
Grayson has seen his side go three unbeaten in all competitions recently and will want to extend that run to four when his team travels across to Yorkshire to face The Millers at the AESSEAL New York Stadium on Saturday.
Here’s what the Gaffer had to say in his pre-match press conference:
On Saturday’s game…
“We’re coming up against strong opposition at the weekend and need to deal with whatever they throw at us. We know how the opposition is going to play so we need to give the opposition a tough game as well with the ball and without it.
“We’ve got to keep working hard, developing everybody by getting them up to speed, and make sure that we are consistent in our performances. Right from the start of the season, we’ve had good performances, but just not had the results. What you’ve got to do is believe and maintain the level of work and we can have a successful season.
“There’s no easy game, we’ve had a tough start because a lot of the teams we’ve played so far would like to finish in the top six of the table and we’ve been competitive. We need to make sure we keep showing our capabilities as we did in the Plymouth, Cheltenham, and Leicester games as they add extra belief into the camp.”
On the squad…
“We signed Joe Garner just before the end of the window who is getting up to speed and Callum Johnson as well. We are in a good place with the squad and may have one or two players missing, but those who have been out of the team recently have a chance to do well and stake a claim to be in the squad for a long period of time.
“His influence [Joe Garner] both on the training pitch and in the dressing room is clear to see straight away, he’s got a lot of respect from his colleagues and I’m sure he will be a big signing for us. I’ve seen his qualities and know the reasons why we signed him as he is experienced, holds up the ball well, and knows where the back of the goal is, but he probably isn’t there in terms of starting the game.
“We’ve got good competition for places; you’ve only got to see the last game or two that James Hill has gone out through injury and ended up not being able to get back into the team and then got called up to go on international duty so that just shows the strength in depth we’ve got at this moment in time.”
On James Hill’s recent England Under-20 call-up…
“I’m made up for him; he’s a lovely lad. It’s fantastic recognition for James and his family for what he has worked and strived to get to and it’s great for the football club as well. We were the only Category-3 club to have anybody in that squad, everyone else was from a Category-1 academy so that speaks volumes for our football club.
“The future is only as good as you want it to be and it’s all about how hard you want to work for it. Ever since I’ve been here, he’s worked extremely hard, asks a lot of questions as he wants to improve, and has tried to make sure that he doesn’t replicate the mistakes he has previously made.
“James has worked so hard, he’s been through some up and downs in his short career so far, and there will be many more of them along the way, but what a fantastic thing to happen to you, to represent your country at the Under-20 level. Hopefully, there will be many more games on the way.”