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DK: Well, it's a point on the board.
KH: Yes, look, it's another away point, another clean sheet. Obviously, it's frustrating. I think we've had enough chances today to probably win a couple of games, but we looked a little bit edgy, we snatched at some chances and didn't hit the target enough, which obviously resulted in us not getting the goal that we needed to win the game. Yes, it's frustrating, of course, but I think we need to keep a level on it. We've come away from home, albeit to a team that obviously looks like they're going to go down, but we're the team top of the table and everyone seems to raise the games against us, so we've got to carry that tag with us. Hopefully, it's a lesson learned in games like this. You need to be composed and calm and not get jittery. Obviously, that would result in, hopefully, a calmer finish and got us a goal, but today it weren't to be.
DK: Was missing players a big factor?
KH: I don't think it ever helped. Obviously, Keiran's our skipper and our leader and he's an unbelievable player for us, has been for years and probably one of the best along with Dan at the centre-half at this level. So, missing him wasn't ideal, but we've still got players good enough to fill in and get the job done.
Today, we didn't obviously concede, so we've kept a clean sheet, but it was the other end where we sort of lacked it a little bit, lacked that little bit of composure, that little bit of calmness in front of the goal, which would have seen us on another day probably score three or four. We take the point, so it's another point to the total.
If you'd have told me at the start of the season, we'd be five points clear with a game in hand. We've got nine games left, I'd have snapped your hand off, so it's important that we put a level on it and realise where we are and how well we've done. It's just about finishing the job off now.
DK: And Jake's going off early, was another blow.
KH: Yes, again, it wasn't ideal. We ended up with a little bit of a makeshift back four.
I think he's going to go on for an X-ray, so fingers crossed it's not as bad as we first fear. We'll see where we are. We'll train Monday, we've obviously got a rest in terms of no match midweek and we can recuperate. All guns blazing, we've got two home games coming up.
DK: Any chance of Hugh being recalled?
KH: Not at this stage. Obviously, I'll know more once I know about Jake, but we'll see where we are Monday, what bodies we've got. Obviously, Kyle got booked, so he's going to miss two games now. But that's football, that's why you can't get too carried away. A few weeks ago when we were flying, we still are flying, but if the job's still not done, there's going to be bumps in the road. Today, I would consider a bump in the road with Hamo getting booked. Obviously, we're not winning the game and we're missing Keiran. Jake's gone off injured. That's a bump in the road, but that's what football's about. I know what's coming. We'll see where we are Monday and then we'll go again.
DK: Good to have Byron back now though.
KH: Byron's obviously been out for a long time and he's chomping on the bit to get minutes, so he's got a few minutes today. We'll see where we are when we come Monday. There could be opportunities for others because there could be a few injuries and whatnot. Obviously, Hamo missing two games through suspension. So, we'll see where we're at.
DK: One positive is that even though we haven't been clinical, we've still created enough chances to win it.
KH: Yes, I think we have today. Not a proper clear cut, I think Seth's was a decent chance in the first minute, I think it was. I think it could have then probably settled everyone down and been a different game. We've obviously hit the post and the rebound was blazed over.
We were just a little bit too desperate to score in the end. I said to the lads there, for us to go on and win the league in these situations, where I've been involved in teams that have gone on to win titles, is calmness wins you when all the hectic stuff is going on around you. It's that calmness and in front of goal and keeping the level head and doing things the right way that gets you over the line. So, hopefully we'll be looking to do that.
DK: And on the other end, even with defenders dropping like flies, still solid at the back?
KH: Yes, it was another clean sheet. I don't know how many that is now. It's a lot of clean sheets we've got. We need a few more of them before the end of the season.
DK: As you say, next up, Barwell at home, who always give us a tough game.
KH: Yes, there's no easy games. I think it's proved today. I think Long Eaton are 15 points adrift. Baring a miracle are going to go down, but they're still fighting. So, credit to them and credit to their manager to get them up for that. They looked dangerous at times on the break, albeit they didn't have a lot of possession in that half, but there's no easy games at this level.
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