REACTION | Kevin Horlock Post Match Interview | Mickleover v Needham Market | 11.11.2023 | League
Manager Kevin Horlock reflects on yesterday's draw at Mickleover.
DK: Good point on the road?!
KH: Yeah, I think so, obviously it was hyped up, top of the table clash, they're a good team there's no doubt about that so we were travelling up, playing on a 3G which they're used to training and playing on. It was a big ask, and it was a good performance and to take a point I'm very pleased. Players missing, and I'm as honest as can be we weren't particularly good today, I thought we looked a bit tentative, sat off them a little bit too much first half. We improved second half, and I thought Seth was brilliant when he came on, and we end up getting a point. Did we deserve it? Probably not, they're probably going to rue missed chances and they'll be kicking themselves they didn't get all 3, one thing we did do was just stay in the game and that gives you a chance. Obviously the penalty is a nailed on penalty so they can't moan about that too much, so yeah it's a great point for us!
DK: Took the best chance we got to earn a point.
KH: Yeah, there were a couple of half chances late on, Ingers and it looked like we might've nicked it - which would've been daylight robbery I think - but over the course of the season you earn days like this, where we're going to play better than that and lose. I thought we were very good against Nuneaton and ended up losing 2-0, so to be under par, to come to the league leaders who are tipped to run away with the league and get a point under strengthed is massive for us, so we'll take that!
DK: At the other end Marco was brilliant again between the sticks.
KH: Yeah, he had saves to make today, unfortunately he was a lot busier than we'd like him to be, but you've got to give them credit, they're a real threat going forward. They looked dangerous, they're sharp, they get shots off so he was always going to be fairly busy today, but everything that was asked of him he comes up trumps.
DK: With players already injured, it was an added blow to lose Tommy.
KH: Yeah, he's obviously gone over on his ankle again, which he had a couple of weeks ago, so it's not ideal. Obviously we have a massive game against Stowmarket on Tuesday, we're going to be really light but we'll get the wounded strapped up and we go again, like I say Tuesday's massive for us. Don't think we've got a league game for 11 days, so we need to get through, not just Tuesday's game but we need to get through, to the next round. It's a competition that we want to progress and win again.
DK: With players out injured and Tev unavailable it was a good reaction to going behind early on.
KH: Yeah, look that's the real pleasing thing. I thought the goal was poor from our point of view, they're good players, we sat off them and we let good players have time and space in your box they're going to punish you, which they did, but from that moment we hung in there. With players missing, obviously players getting shuffled about and we were plugging gaps at times but I thought we hung in the game and that gives you a chance for anything to happen. Obviously the penalty comes late on, which is a sucker blow to them, but like I say after that we had a couple of half chances, and I thought we could've nicked it but in all I think we're delighted with the point and they're probably going to be ruing missed chances, like I said.
DK: Before Jamie won the penalty did you think we were going to get an equaliser?
KH: I thought we had moments, I think Seth come on and added that little bit of aggression, he's a younger player still and he's improving week on week, and I can see real improvement in him lately. He's looked slightly stronger, he's dealing with the physical side of football at this level and he looks a bit of a player, and from that it meant we had a little bit more possession higher up the pitch and in and around their box and that's what resulted in the penalty. So yeah, I was unsure whether it was going to come, but we've seen in the past when it's 1-0 you've always got a chance, and luckily enough it did.
DK: Any news on when Dan, Kyle and whoever else might be back?
KH: Well Tev's obviously back for Tuesday, I think Dan's a definite no, Hammo - Kyle Hammond's- a definite no, Tommy will now be a definite no and there's a few with knocks and niggles but we'll go as strong as we can - obviously add a few of the kids in and then aim to get through to the next round.
DK: It's a big local derby, given the short distance between the two clubs.
KH: Yeah, locals rivals and people will say, look Stow shouldn't have a chance but maybe they shouldn't, obviously a league below and not having a great season, we're flying but that goes out of the window in a cup game. Obviously they'll raise their game, they'll be a fair crowd I reckon, bit of rivalry, they'll be higher tempo, so we have to turn up. We can't just think we've got to turn up we'll just win the game, we've got to be at it and firing on all cylinders.
DK: Plus it's a repeat of April's final.
KH: Yes, slightly different. Obviously they've had a big turnaround of players and their club's changed direction slightly, so maybe it won't be as high quality as that was, it was loads of goals and lots of quality but it's a cup tie, it's a local derby, just down the road and it's about getting bragging rights for your club, because it's that close proximity, so hopefully come Tuesday night after the game it's the Needham fans that are cheering.
DK: Returning to today, what pleased you the most?
KH: Just staying in the game, we're not going to be brilliant every week, we've been really good this season, we've been frightening in some games but you're not always going to play that, so at times when you don't - like today - you've got to show resilience, bravery and toughness and that willingness just to keep working hard for the cause and staying in the game was the most pleasing thing, and to get a point I'm made up for the lads.
DK: Like you said, second half it was more like us.
KH: Yeah, we was better, still not near where we've been but again, like I say, you're not going to play at that level all the time but we've come to the league leaders, they were 5 points clear at the start of the day, we come here short, missing key players and we walk away today still only 5 points behind. So that's a positive result for us.
REACTION | Luke Ingram Post Match Interview | Mickleover v Needham Market | 11.11.2023 | League |
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