Manager Kevin Horlock reflects on today's draw.
DK: First point on the board for the season, you must be pleased?
KH: Yeah, I think it was obviously important to try and get points on the board as soon as you can, and going the first three games without any was not ideal, obviously. But, yeah, I take points on the road. It could have been more today. I think if we'd have played with the intensity like we did on Tuesday, I think we'd win the game. But I'm a realist. Tuesday's game was really tough against Scunthorpe. We've had a six-hour journey here today. So, the lads worked hard and, yeah, got the first point, which is massive for us and it becomes a good result if we can back it up on Monday.
DK: And Ben got his first goal for the club with a well-finished off, well-worked move!
KH: Yeah, to be fair, our deliveries into the box wasn't great today, if I'm totally honest, but Milzy has put one back stick there. Hunts has made a run and got a tap in at back post. So, yeah, pleased for Hunts to get off the mark. But just pleased for the lads really to get something from today's game, because I think it would have been a tragedy if we'd have been sat here again like we have been in previous weeks, where we're saying we were unlucky not to get something. So, we've got a point on the board. It's a starting point and now we can start building.
DK: Could it have been three?
KH: I think so. It's difficult for me to be critical of the lads because they've worked so hard again today. We've had a tough game Tuesday. We've had the long journey here, which we know we're going to have to do week in, week out. So, they give everything. But I think if we'd have shown a little bit more quality in the final third, because we did have opportunities, we got balls in good areas and I think we had a 3v2, a 3v1 at one point and we just didn't really capitalise on that opportunity. I think last year when we're winning games and we're full of confidence, I think we scored more than one goal today. So, it could have been three, definitely could have been three. But it's a point and we're not leaving empty-handed. So, we'll take that.
DK: Another positive is that we responded quite quickly to going behind.
KH: Yeah, I thought we were better second half.
Obviously, first half, we didn't get up the pitch as much as we'd have liked. Obviously, there's a slight slope here. But second half, I thought we played front foot. We dominated the ball at times. Played in there half a lot more. We got in good areas and just lacked that little bit of quality that we normally show.
DK: You brought in Josh last night. He was on the bench today, albeit didn't feature.
KH: Yeah, obviously, he's a really good young player. He's a good size, a really good footballer. Comes with really good pedigree. So, we need bodies at this level. He obviously adds height and strength in defensive areas for us, which we certainly need.
DK: And we had a few players out today with no Hammo, no Luke and Jayden.
KH: Yeah, I think that's going to probably be the case this year where we're playing at a higher level. The games are a lot more intense and lads are going to pick up injuries. Certainly, when you're playing midweek and Saturday. So, yeah, you would ideally want all your squad fit, but that's not really going to happen. So, we've got bodies. We've got players that can come in.
We've got options in different areas. So, we're okay.
DK: What's pleased you most today?
KH: I think that we've just come away from home on the back of arguably three difficult results.
Albeit, we've played really well in the last two, I believe. We could have got something from both and I just didn't want the lads to start doubting themselves. We've had a trip here and it's difficult when you've not won a game to find that performance and where you're going to get that first point or first three points from, so I'm really pleased how they dug in. We've defended really well again today apart from the goal, which obviously there's always bones to pick when you can see goals. But as a group, we worked really hard and eventually got something for it.
DK: Yeah, like we say, it was a well-earned point and hopefully build on it as Monday against Alfreton.
KH: Yeah, again, it's going to be a tough game. Alfreton are a big physical team. I think we've realised and realised early that the physical side of the game is a lot stronger at this level than the one below. So, we've acclimatised that reasonably well. It's just then going from the physical side of it on the turnover to then having the composure and the guile to cut teams open and create chances.
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