Kevin Horlock v Berkhamsted 10.02.2024
DK: You must be absolutely delighted with that?!
KH: Yeah, it wasn't a spectacle by any means. The game was quite bitty. There was no real free-flowing football on it, on obviously a difficult pitch with great torrential rain. But we know how to win a game. We looked up against it, obviously going a goal down, with a great strike, we get back in it and then a penalty late on, obviously, we made changes, which was really important to that. I think the lads that come on affected the game and it was a big reason why we went on to win it - but this group of players are special, theyy never know when they're beaten and we keep going. In the end, we get the win that we were desperate for.
DK: Not many times we've had to come from behind to win a game, but it's a good test.
KH: Yes, it's something that we definitely got better at. I think I said in there, last year, I think we lose that game and possibly one more. We sort of went under last year when we go behind, but this year, I never really panicked. I don't think the lads panic either and we keep going. We've scored some good goals. Three headers today. I think it's the first time we've done that in a game where we've scored three headers. And they're all very good headers. An important time. So, yes, we made up. This wasn't easy today. Everyone would have looked here and gone, they're near the bottom. Obviously, us flying high, it was an easy three points. I knew it was going to be heavy. They were mad for it. Obviously, they're playing a team right at the top, which could kick-start their season. So, it was always going to be a difficult one and we're going to be up against it, but like I said, we've come up with the answers. So, credit to the lads. I couldn't be prouder.
DK: The three goals were clinical delivery and clinical finishing.
KH: Yes, three great headers. I'm not sure how many headers Nico has scored in his career or he will score. He's obviously a flying wing. It was an unbelievable header. Ball in from Mills, he's hung and hit it back where it came from, looping into the far corner. Very similar to what Ingers' was. And obviously, Dan was a little bit different, where he directed it down into the bottom corner to win it. So, all three were really good goals.
DK: Dr Dan loves a goal away from home lately.
KH: Yes, he's scored a few. And look, it's important for goals to be chipped in from around the pitch. We're scoring goals from midfield. Our wide players are adding goals. Obviously, our centre forwards are scoring goals, which they're there to do, but when the defenders are chipping in as well, it makes it quite a good combination and gives you a real chance of scoring goals and winning games.
DK: Having given Nico the nod to start, it's nice to see him on the score sheet.
KH: Yes, I thought he looked dangerous. In a difficult game where we weren't at our best, I thought he was the shining light, really. He looked dangerous, he looked like he was going to get in. He worked really, really hard and scored a really important goal and it was a good goal as well.
DK: We focused on the men that scored the goals, but the delivery to set them up was pinpoint.
KH: Yes, we've got that now in Mills. Obviously, he loves to deliver the ball into the box, slightly different to other wingers we've got at the club, where they're a little bit more jinky and a little bit more taking people on. Mills, he does deliver into good areas. So, if you have runners and people filling in areas where the ball is coming into the box, you've got half a chance of scoring.
DK: What's the most pleasing thing today?
KH: I think three points. That's all we're here for. Nothing more, nothing less. Everyone will forget and it's probably a good thing that we forget what the game was like because it wasn't great at all. You've got to give them a little bit of credit. They're languished at the bottom and they're fighting for their lives and they put up a good fight today. So, it was always going to be physical, but the game was a non-spectacle, it was a non-goer really. So, the most pleasing thing for me was the three points because that's all we've come for. We've got them and we can go back, drive back on the coach, very happy with ourselves.
DK: And with Ingram back from injury, back in the goals as well?
KH: Yes, his was a good header. Obviously, he's trained a couple of times now, so he's obviously back in the squad now. Obviously, he'll maybe need a bit of fitness in terms of his game time, but he's gone on and affected it. It's a great header. He's done what he's been doing for a number of years, and been in the right place, jogging on the spot at the right time with a good looping header.
DK: And you must be pleased that Nico and Manny have extended their loans?
KH: Yes, they're good young players. Obviously, Manny is probably a little bit frustrated, he's not got minutes as yet, but he's a really good player, got loads of potential. So we're pleased to have him and I'm sure we will get minutes somewhere along the line. And obviously, to secure Nico to an end of the season, I think those that were here have seen how exciting he can be. He can run past people, he's lightning quick and he pops up with a goal. So he's definitely going to add to us. K
DK: We started with a style that we don't always do, so to have come away with the three points must be even more pleasing?
KH: Yes, we sort of mixed it up a little bit. When we started with three, we then went to a two late on to try and get back in the game. We then moved Milzy across and I think that's the importance of the squad. I think the lads that come on, I was able to change it about. The lads don't ask questions, they get on with it, and I think the formation changes at times and obviously the substitutions give us that little push that we needed and got us over the line and that's what the squad's about. If we're going to be successful this season, it's not always about the starting eleven. It's about the lads that can affect it when they come on, so as a squad, we're going to achieve things if we do end up achieving it, not from the team or the eleven at the start. A bit shaky in periods, but overall done the job. Yes, we're not going to blast teams away. Yes, we're sitting high on the table. Yes, we've played some unbelievable football this season, but I've been in football long enough. You're not going to just blow teams away, no matter where they are in the league. You're not always going to play wonderful football, which is pleasing on the eye. Sometimes you've got to win ugly. Today was one of them days and it pleases me today as much as a win where we played free-flowing football and scored loads of goals. Today was massive for us.
DK: Are you disappointed with the way that their goals have come?
KH: I think you're always disappointed with the way goals come, but like I said, the game's done. We've got three points, what we've come for, so I'm not that disappointed. I think it's important to keep your feet on the ground. Last week against Telford was massive for us. Inside, I knew it was that, but you've got to stay calm. I said at half-time to the lads today, in a game like today where they're mad for it, fighting for their lives, you sometimes get drawn into that hectic style of football. I said, look, calmness is going to win you the game today. I think we stayed calm, we didn't panic, and we got the goals that we needed. So, yes, calmness all the way forward to the end of the season. The games are getting ticked off. It's going to get more nervy. We're going to have games where we lose, but overall, if we keep our calmness, I think we'll be all right.
DK: Next up, Suffolk derby, Leiston at home.
KH: Yes, it always gets built up. It's a massive game, obviously. We're both in two very different positions in the league, but it's a game that they obviously want to win. They're looking to grab enough points to maybe sneak into the playoffs. They'd love to derail our promotion push, but it ends up normally not a very good game. So, hopefully we'll defend well and be a threat that we normally are and score goals, and that means, again, we're after the three points and that's it.
DK: And you've got a selection headache for that?
KH: Yes, but I don't mind it. It's a good thing to have. The lads understand enough now to know what we're trying to achieve. They understand they're all here for a reason and that's to play, obviously, but at times only 11 can play. So, sometimes you've got to be patient, but I'll have a headache. We'll see how we are. Obviously, there'll be a few knocks today and then we're picking 11, certainly, to start to win the game, and I know I've got a bench that can come on and affect it as well.
DK: Yes, Byron and Manny, as you say, haven't had many minutes yet, but they will gradually.
KH: Yes, there's loads of games to come. Obviously, we've got the Premier Cup game as well. So, there's plenty of games to go.
Nico Valentine v Berkhamsted 10.02.2024
DK: A nice start and a goal for you?
NV: Yes, I've been working hard to try and get in the team. Obviously, it's the first time that we've really had a squad here that I've been told about. I don't think we filled out the bench prior to me and Manny coming in, maybe, but it's just competition for places and we've all played a part today. And I think even the substitutes that have come off the bench, we've won the game within the last 15 minutes. And I'm always happy to grab a goal. Obviously, different to what I'm used to, but that's how I've had to adapt to this league, and yeah, I'm happy to get on the score sheet again. I'm not sure how I've headed that in to be fair. I've just seen Milzy whip it in and I've just tried to get a bit of contact on it. I'm not the greatest with the technical stuff heading, but, you know, I think at Ipswich, you don't get many of those crosses in the box. I think it's more pullbacks along the floor. But this is what I've got to do. This is what I've come here to adapt and add stuff to my game and score on goals like that. If I could make it every week, then that'd be good. I think it's hit me and I've opened my eyes and it's hit the back of the net. So I think that's what happens. But you know what you're going to get with Milzy putting in them balls. He's put in three or four today. I think Ingers has got on the end of one and then obviously Morph has scored from Tommy Smith. I think there's just a lot of quality on the crosses in wide areas. And I think that's where we wanted to exploit it today. Obviously, them playing three at the back meant that we were always going to have the overloads in the wide areas. And I think early on, we didn't really exploit that. But towards the end of the game, you could see them opening up and we were just splitting more chances, and I think there was only one team that was going to win the game coming into the game.
DK: It's important because there were times that you, kind of, could have thought this might not be our day.
NV: Yeah, well, it's obviously coming to the bottom of the league or a team battling in and around here. It's never easy. People look at it and see bottom versus top and think, oh, they'll take the three points. But it's never like that. It's a tough place to come. They're fighting for their lives down here. They're trying to stay in the division, just like we're trying to fight at the top. This could have kick-started their season. If they've won against us here today, then it changes their season run completely. But I think we stayed calm throughout and we've got a process and we just want to stick to that kind of thing. And I think even when we went 1-0 down, it was just about getting together and doing what we do best. And I think we've proved that if we just stay calm and play our game, there's 90 minutes in the game. You can go right down to the very last minute to get a goal.
DK: You must be pleased to have marked your loan extension with a start and a goal.
NV: Yes, obviously I've extended in the week. I thought it was a good opportunity and it's one of them you have to balance up minutes and experience. But I'm here to battle for my place, just like anyone else is. And it's not going to be easy anywhere you go in football, and obviously, grabbing a goal today, that's what I've got to do to stay on the team. And that's the reality of it, really. And hopefully I can just keep scoring more and more goals and help this team get the promotion that they deserve.
DK: What part of today stood out for you most?
NV:bI think just the grit and desire throughout. We never gave up. We've gone down twice today and it is tough going down against a team that are down there. You're the favourites. You come here and it's a bit of a lose-lose game because you win and everyone's saying you should win the game. And if you lose, then everyone's going, oh, the bottom's beating the top. I just think there's so much experience in this team, but it's integrated so well with young players that are trying to get experience. Everyone just stays so calm. We know the quality we've got within the group and we've just got to stick to the process, as I've said before.
DK:bWe haven't had many times this year where we've had to come behind, so it's a good marker for us.
NV: Exactly. It shows that we can win all sorts of games, and that's what you have to do as a promotion team. You're not going to get straightforward three, three-nil, four-nil games, especially down in these divisions. No game's an easy game. Tough pitch today, but we've shown that even if we do go down, the fans can have hope. And not just hope, but belief that we're going to get back in the game. And I think that's the hardest thing to get within a team when you go down is actual belief instead of just hoping something's going to happen.
DK: Leiston up next on Tuesday, and I dare say you'll know quite a few of their lads.
NV: Yeah, I've been talking to a few of the boys, at Ipswich, who have been there for the season. So, yeah, it's bragging rights, really, isn't it? It's a Derby game, but we've just got to settle the game down, and it's just like any other game. Derbys are more for the fans, but it's obviously a great experience for all the players to play in a high-intensity game, but yeah, I really want to win that game and get the result for the fans, really.
DK: Does it make it any more, kind of personal pride, that there are other Ipswich current and former loanees there?
NV: Yeah, there'll be chatting in the changing rooms, obviously, in the lead-up, tomorrow, I'll be getting messages. Monday, I'll be in the changing rooms talking to them. But come Tuesday, I'm focused on getting the result and what happens, happens. And it's not going to dictate either of our seasons. There's so many more games to go and teams are going to lose games, teams are going to win games. But I think as a one-off game, we do want to take the win. And hopefully I can go in with bragging rights on Wednesday morning.
No comments:
Post a Comment