Manager Kevin Horlock and captain Keiran Morphew reflect on going top of the table following Needham's 2-1 win over Leamington at Bloomfields.
Kevin Horlock gives his thoughts on last night's game.
KH: Yeah it's a massive win tonight. It was all about three points. We wasn't at our best, but give them credit obviously they were good team. They were right up there with us, so we was under the cost for long periods but we know at the win games this season, we've won games where we've played free-flowing football, we've won games where we've gone behind, and tonight we've won a game where we was nowhere near our best so that's a really good sign and I'll take that.
DK: Having had Tev go off injured in the first half, that must have made it all the better?
KH: Yeah, look Tev's been massive for us. His energy levels. He adds a different dimension to us. He runs people away to give other players options he got on the ball. He's been scoring goals, another great goal. So for him to come off was disappointing but obviously Reece went on there, obviously he's got quality in himself. We've got squad of players that could all start in their own right so we dealt with it and got the job done, albeit not asking many questions second half but we already had what we needed which was obviously the 2-1 lead and we defended stoutly. We rode our luck. We had the rub of the green and all the things you need in the course of the season to be successful. It weren't pretty, it wouldn't have got anyone on the edge of the seats in the stadium tonight but it was about three points.
DK: Having conceded, it was some important that we went back in front with Tev's free-kick.
KH: Yes, it was disappointing. I won't show it was a free kick if I'm totally honest. I don't think any of their players appealed for it, but it's not the ref's fault we conceded. We didn't defend it particularly well, which is unlike us, but we showed good character. We went up there and it was a great free kick Tev has scored and it puts in the driving seat. I would have hoped for us to have more possession and kick on and put the game to bed, but I'll take a bit responsibility for that. I thought the lads looked a little bit jaded from the weekend, the tough game we had away at Barwell on the 3G. So we had to win a different way tonight. It's a way where we'd lost maybe last season because we sat a little bit deep, we didn't press, we conceded a lot of possession. They dumped balls in our box, but we didn't concede. So the 3 points are massive first tonight and now we can rest and see where we're at, we'll train Thursday, then obviously the game's going to get no bigger than Leiston at home.
DK: And Ingers is on a streak of three goals from three games now?
KH: Yeah, it's a great goal to be fair. It's made a good run, it's a great pass and obviously calm in front of goal, just lifted it over the keeper, so yeah it was a great goal.
DK: Having withstood a bit of pressure, it's important to win those games if you're to have a chance of going up?
KH: Yeah, look, that's a long way off. We're at the top of league. That's the easy bit done to be fair. Easy bits getting there. The hard bits staying there, because we've become a team to fire at, and teams will obviously try and do that, but do you know what I mean, I back my players. They're a hard working group, so we're there, will we stay there? Time will tell.
DK: Where does tonight's game rank in terms of the toughest games we've had this season?
KH: I think it was a tough game. I don't think we played particularly well, let's not take anything away from Leamington, it was obviously a tough game for us. But the whole tough game, the game Saturday at Barwell was a really tough game in a different way, but you've got to be strong enough and have enough character to deal with all what's thrown at you, at the minute, the team, the squad I've got and the players I've got at the football club are answering all the questions, and everything that's thrown at them. So it's been an unbelievable start to season. First, we find ourselves top, but it's so far to go. You can't rest on your laurels. I don't think this group will. We'll training hard, and we'll see where it takes us, we'll keep working hard and pushing and wanting more and try to progress.
DK: That's three games in a row now where we've went 2-1 up and we've defended well to preserve it.
KH: Yeah, I think that's been the back bone a bit, and I think I said it last interview. It's not just the back four or Marco, as good as they've been. It's the people in front of them, the midfielders, the wide players, the forwards, defending starts from the front, but we're very lucky to have the back four and the goalkeeper we've got at the football club.
DK: Obviously Nico isn't in the squad tonight, is he getting it ever closer?
KH: I think he's getting closer. I think he's done bits and pieces out of the training field. I think he's probably joining in training at his parent club, Ipswich, by the end of the week. Probably Saturday is too soon for him, but we'll see. It'll probably be the week after.
DK: Moving on to Leiston and like you say, it'll be a big rivalry.
KH: We'll see. We'll see where we're at. I think everyone will be fit. Hopefully, Tev will only be a minor, minor shoulder injury, where it'll settled down and he'll be available, and we look forward to the game. It's always a nice fixture to be involved in. Obviously, everything's on the line. So no doubt there'll be coming all guns blazing, we'll be doing the same, and hopefully it's an entertaining game, but hopefully it's a game where Needham score more goals than Leiston.
DK: Does that give us an added boost going top tonight?
KH: Yeah, of course. It's sort of like a double edged sword really, where it's what you aspire to be top of the league, albeit at the end of season, that's where you want to be and the problem with that, you're the one to shoot down. So teams will find that extra bit against you, and it becomes tougher, but I'm confident that the group I've got can deal with that, and like I said the future will tell.
Keiran Morphew reflects on last night's win.
DK: Good win tonight and nice to go top of the table.
KM: Yeah, unusual territory for Needham in step three. Hard thought win probably, well we did get away with it. I don't think it played particularly well. I thought, I personally thought we were a bit leggy from the 4G on Saturday, but credit to Leamington, they're probably one of the best sides we've played this year, I thought they could pass it and then they brought a big lad on near the end and they could go longer as well and play off him. I thought they're really good tonight and I'm lucky not to get away, not to come away with anything.
DK: As captain you must be pleased, 3 straight games now that we've found a way to win and see it out?
KM: Yeah, obviously I'd like the clean sheets to come back, letting in one, it weren't a foul for their goal, not a chance and then we could have dealt (with it). We should have dealt with a free kick a bit better, and there's two set pieces now in two games so something to look at, but yeah we still we managed to grind out wins, that's the important thing, and eventually I'm a bit pessimistic that probably that'll start going against us, but at the moment we can just enjoy it for now.
DK: So far so good and the added bonus was obviously your knock to the head Saturday wasn't that bad to rule you out.
KM: Yeah, yeah, that did hurt, my nose is still sore and got a couple of black eyes, but I managed to get away with it tonight not getting a bonk on the nose, which is which is fortunate because it is a big nose.
DK: What were you thinking during that second half when they had us under massive pressure?
KM: We were just laughing at changing because a couple of times I did think ooh that's a goal. They put in a couple of good crosses but Marco's made a great save. They probably should have had a penalty to fair at the end as well but we held them out, they probably should have scored but they didn't so and we won, that's the main thing.
DK: On the other end of that, do you think we could've scored one or two more to make it safe?
KM: Yeah, I don't think, we probably should have made better of some chances, half chances where we could have worked a bit better ,but that's probably the least amount of shots have had a goal for a few weeks now I reckon in my opinion.
DK: On the flip side, when you're in front all you just need to do is just hold onto it.
KM: Yeah, yeah, we're pretty experienced at the back, obviously Tommy is a bit new to the game, but new to step 3, but he's fitted in like he's played hundreds and hundreds of games already, but otherwise we're all pretty experienced this level so in that defensive third and we do we can keep the goals low to give us the best chance to win a game.
We did need another goal for sure, because they got banging on the door for probably 35 minutes of that half or so. I really feel like we've got away with it actually.
DK: Is that how you felt most of the season?
KM: No, no, no, I've been confident all season, like last two games we have gone 1-0 down, previously. I felt we were going to win the game every time, I thought we played pretty well, especially the last home game, Bromsgrove. Yeah I thought we were excellent and I never felt like we were not going to win that game, but yeah like like I said I think we've got away with it.
DK: Finally luck's gone on our side, so far, unlike last season.
KM: Yeah we've played well last season and lost those games so shows we've turned a page a bit, but yeah we've got the win, we're top of the league, so enjoy it and let's try andcreate a gap.
DK: Does it make any more proud for you having been here so long to see us now top of the league?
KM: Yeah, yeah, we're a small little club, we're punching well above our weight. I think everyone knows that probably the budget probably not even in the middle of this league, in terms of financially, but we've got the best players, in this, in our area in our team so that's the best chance we've got.
DK: Moving onto Saturday, the old rivals Leiston.
KM: Yeah obviously they had a really good year last year in the league and obviously not going as well as they want to do this year, so hopefully we can, I felt like we should have won at their place actually, we're a lot more confident, and in a better place than we were when we played them before, so we just got to play our normal game and see what comes.
DK: Yeah, because when we played them away that was where we were kind of fluctuating between a couple of wins here and there, a couple of draws here and there, and after that we then went on the massive run that we did.
KM: Yeah, yeah, so like I said we're in a completely different space, I'm not saying we're just going to walk over them because not how it goes local derby and football in general, but we're in the best position we've been ever. I think this is probably the best Needham team I've ever been in to be honest, in terms of where we are in a league, and we can win games in various ways and the quality we've got I firmly believe that.
DK: That's strong praise, considering you were in the side that got promoted to this level.
KM: Yeah the difference between step four and step three is ridiculous really, there's a lot of teams we play, well at the top eight of our league, there's probably players throughout all the squads that could go and play full-time but have better living conditions playing part-time and a full-time job. I remember when Mark Morsley told me that when we got promoted step three that there's players who should be full-time but they earn more money the way they're playing part-time so that's what I think.
DK: Do you think that if things went differently that some of our players would be playing pro football?
KM: Yeah, like, I think Hammy, Jake, Tommy Smith, Dan is hugely underrated, Dan's excellent, players I can't think like Reece has been played a good level before like higher than I think most in our team there's loads, Marco probably should have been as well, but also he loves part time football, but yeah I've missed players out, like Ingers, I think it's probably unlucky over the years not to get moved when he was younger.
DK: Would you include yourself in that bracket?
KM: Nah, I'm Needham through and through mate!
DK: That was a strong instinctive denial there.
KM: Yeah I am, Needham through and through!
DK: You're happy being Mr. Needham.
KM: I'm not Mr. Needham by a long way, not at all, but I'm just happy at the club and that's how it goes, that's the end of that!
No comments:
Post a Comment