Ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Chippenham, we spoke to Warren Feeney, who revealed the psychological boosts from last week’s win, why clubs face more pressure towards the end of the season, and more…
On last week’s result:
I don’t think the win was a massive shock – even in the games we’ve lost we haven’t put in performances that were poor. But, with that being said, we started the game very well and we deserved to win.
On whether our recent points are frustrating given the context of this season:
Perhaps, but it always takes a bit of time for a new manager to get their team going. There may be a spike at the start, but they’ll fall backwards a little before getting back on their feet. The players have been brilliant for me since I’ve come in – the main thing for me has been boosting their confidence and helping them realise just how good they can be. Hopefully it will continue to pay off.
On whether this squad should be in the relegation zone:
I’ve said to the players that they’ve shown they’re good enough to stay in this league, but the key to being a top player is consistency. That’s one thing we still need to be better at, but all we can do is keep going and finish the season as strong as we can.
On the psychological boosts from last weekend:
We’re not just off the bottom now – we’re four points clear. Psychologically, that’s massive for us, especially after our struggles trying to move up the table this season. These are clear signs of improvement. Now, it might be too late to stay up but we’ve given ourselves a chance, and at the very least we can give us momentum going into next season.
On Calvin Brooks:
Calvin is a great player who knows the club inside out. He’s a joy to work with, because he’s so honest. The boys were calling him “Cafu” after his goal!
On the role of our experienced players:
You always need your older heads to create a healthy mixed balance in the dressing room. They’re the players that can guide the younger ones. As a manager that’s all you can ask for.
On Chippenham Town:
Chippenham is a difficult place to go, so we have to make sure we’re at our best. They’re a good side and they’ve shown that they can beat anyone on their day, but we have to treat them as we have done any other team and carry on the momentum from last week.
On why clubs face more pressure towards the end of the season:
There’s always disappointment towards the end of a season, whether that’s with losing players who come to the end of their contracts, or results. Looking at Liverpool, they went out of two cup competitions within a week. But, that’s the beauty of football and the most important thing is how you bounce back.