Head coach Scott Brown spoke to the media after his side beat Burton Albion 1-0 at the Pirelli Stadium on Tuesday evening.
The Cods managed to pick up all three points from their away clash with the Brewers after Harvey Macadam netted his first goal of the season in the first half. All eyes will now be on the weekend’s fixture against Portsmouth away from home.
Here’s what the gaffer had to say in his interview:
On the game as a whole and the lads’ performance…
“I think the lads worked extremely hard and I’m proud of the effort that they put in. Could we have killed the game off, I think so – we need to be more relentless in front of goal. The Callum Morton chance was huge, but these things happen, we’ve got to bounce back.
“That’s what you pay your defenders to do; you’ve got to be proud to come away with a clean sheet from here because all the stats are saying that Burton are on their way up and are flying, but the first 45 minutes was pure domination from as we played the way we wanted to play.
“It was our understanding of the game as we could have been down in the opening 10 minutes but, from them, the lads picked their standards up and it was a proper footballing match from then on. They pressed us, but we’ve got the bodies to do that, and we can mix the game up as well.”
On sticking to the game plan…
“We set our game plan out each week depending on who we play, and the lads were unbelievable in how they organised each other, it just shows the standards that they put on themselves. We just need to maintain those standards and look at being better at keeping the ball.
“There was a period between 15 and 45 minutes when we were brilliant at keeping the ball. It takes a lot of pressure off you as when they do get momentum, get the ball, and kill them off – have that belief, whether it’s a 10-yard pass or a 60-yard diagonal, it’s about the belief within the players.”
On the display at both ends of the pitch…
“The work rate in the shape and defensive structure was great as they went direct in the last 15 minutes, which you expect, but you’ve got to be brave and put your bodies on the line. Josh [Earl] and Danny [Andrew] showed this as each of them did fantastic tackles to stop attacks.
“Josh’s tackle shows his willingness to get back into position and to get the clean sheet as well. He gets us those three points today. He showed the speed he’s got and always shows his calmness and is always an influential character for everyone in the team – he’s been great for us to watch.
“Harvey [Macadam] was outstanding tonight, we ended up having to put him at right back – he does the job at right-back, centre midfield, and on the right-wing but I think we have found his position. He’s outstanding in the right-wing position and shows that he has that understanding of the game.”