PREVIEW | Tom Rothery Pre Match Interview | Hitchin Town v Needham Market 29.03.2024 | 27.03.2024 |

DK: Having responded well to setbacks so far this season, how important is it that it is repeated on Friday?

TR: That’s what we will aim to do and as you say that’s what the lads have done all season so far. To lose only 4 league games as we approach the Easter weekend is a phenomenal effort from the boys so hopefully we can carry that on in the remaining six games. 

DK: Would you say the ten game unbeaten run we were on has set the tone for hopefully a landmark season?

TR: I wouldn’t say it’s set the tone as we’ve been consistent throughout the season but I think what we’ve done really well is in having that run in a crucial period under real pressure against good teams plus also with the highest amount of injuries and suspensions we’ve had all season. With such a small squad to have maintained the consistency we have especially when we have players out is a massive credit to the boys in some really high pressured games. 

DK: What's the mood been like in training? 

TR: The moods good the lads were really lively and trained well. We had a good chat after Saturday and as they have all season I believe they’ve taken what was said on board and we now move on. We’ve maintained a really level mentality throughout the season after victories, defeats or draws and put them into perspective and moved on quickly. I think we’ve shown a real professionalism all season. 

DK: We're now entering the run in, do you see the next two games in the space of two days as the most crucial?

TR: Every game is crucial the fact that everybody plays two games over the weekend means there can be some real shift changes but again due to the run of midweeks we’ve had up until last week we are used to that in the past month so I see them as just important as there’s only six games left and this equates to a third of that so they’re important for that reason and I’m sure every club will feel the same regardless of what they’re fighting for, it’s a weekend where you can move significantly potentially. 

DK: How much would it mean to you to get promoted? 

TR: I think for everyone connected to the club it would be a huge achievement. For me personally I think with the resources we have and also the fact I’ve been at this level 8 years as has the club it would be exciting to be able to further test yourself at a higher level finally. I also feel that for Kev and I it would be some real justification for what we’ve tried to do and how hard we’ve worked alongside the players and management team to achieve that against sometimes a high level of criticism and scrutiny. I’ve maintained even during the tough times that in Kev we have an excellent manager and the best we could have and now the results are backing that up but that was always the case even during the tough times. I’m also really pleased that the lads are showing consistently what they’re capable of as they did before albeit without that consistency. 

DK: What type of test do you expect on Friday?

TR: We’ve had this conversation many times this season and previous seasons, there are no easy games at this level. Clearly they’ve been on a bad run which is why they’ve changed manager but it is a strange one as when they came to us earlier in the season they were good and in the play offs and deservedly so. Brett knows the club and has already got a response with a draw against Telford last Saturday which is a great result when you put it in the context of 12 defeats before that and what a good side Telford are so I’m sure it’ll be very tough and one where we will need to be at our very best to get a result.

PREVIEW | Tom Rothery Pre Match Interview 10.11.2023 | Mickleover v Needham Market 11.11.2023 | League 2023-24 |

Assistant Manager Tom Rothery previews tomorrow's trip to Mickleover. 

DK: With the disappointment of how the FA Cup ended is it pleasing how we've continued in the league?

TR: It was disappointing but only in the fact of how late the goal was. I was pleased with how we played over the two games. Pleasing that we’ve continued back in the league in good form especially with some of the injuries we’ve picked up recently. 

DK: On top of the league, we're still in the hunt for a fourth straight Premier Cup, which must be pleasing? 

TR: As Kev always states, we always aim to win that. Nothing has changed but every game brings challenges, they’re all local derbies which always adds a certain challenge and alongside league games we try and use all the squad whilst still obviously trying to progress through the rounds. 

DK: Did you imagine at the start of the season we could be sat where we are in the league at this stage?

TR: I listened back to the interview I did with you after Barwell. Both Kev and I said we’d be better and we’d look to strengthen the areas where we felt we lacked last season. You never know how it will play out but we both felt we’d improved pretty well during the summer. The squad is still small in depth but has real quality and experience so not surprised as I know the quality we have but you still need things to go well to be where we are so I’d say the players deserve a lot of credit for how they’ve started especially when you factor in the amount of games and different competitions. 

DK: How important is tomorrow's game to you, do you see it as a top of the table clash or is it still too early, and what do you expect from the game itself?

TR: It’ll be a tough game. It’s a long journey and they’re a good side obviously sitting where they are in the league. They’ve only drawn one at home and won the rest so we know it’ll be tough and the games I’ve seen they’ve shown they have real quality. I think it’s too early to say it’s anything other than a league game where the winner gets three points or a draw gives you a point each. I don’t think at this stage only a third through the season does it determine anything but I guess a potential winner would give that team even more belief. 

DK: What's the minimum that you want from the lads, and would you be happy with a draw?

TR: Like we always ask, non negotiable, work hard, stick together and play our game, no regrets. You start with a point that’s what we say in the changing room and see how the game plays out and then judge it at the end. 

DK: Similarly, how pleasing and important has it been that we've been consistent home and away so far this season, especially in the goals scored & against departments?

TR: It’s very pleasing as I think it shows that we are showing consistency in our performances which gives you a good chance of doing well in the league. Last season we didn’t do that so that’s a very pleasing aspect. The goals for is good as again shows how hard we’ve worked to correct that and again the lads deserve credit as there’s been a lot of repetitive work at training and we are seeing the reward for that. Defensively last year we were good and adding Tommy into that has made us even stronger and the back 5 have been excellent but as a team we’ve defended well also to help that. 

DK: You must've been pleased with the way the lads bounced back to winning ways on Tuesday?

TR: Yeh I thought that was more important than this coming Saturday really. We’d lost a couple at home after Saturday in league and cup so it’s important to stop that run and reacting after defeat is always important. Like I touched on earlier the injuries have to be considered too so to do that with some good players out was also pleasing.

PREVIEW | TEVAN ALLEN PRE MATCH INTERVIEW | 16.10.2023 | NEEDHAM MARKET V YORK CITY 17.10.2023 | EMIRATES FA CUP 4TH QUALIFYING ROUND REPLAY |

Midfielder Tevan Allen reflects on Saturday's draw, the season so far, the Emirates FA Cup run so far, and previews tonight's (Tuesday 17th October)'s 4th Qualifying Round replay with National League side York City. 

DK: Starting with Saturday's game, you must be proud of the team's performance? 

TA: 100% to a man I thought we were excellent in terms of resilience and putting our bodies on the line. The best thing about it is that we didn’t actually play our best and we have much more to give and hopefully we prove that on Tuesday. 

DK: How did you find the game on Saturday? 

TA: It was an amazing experience for myself, I haven’t played in a game as big as that and it can be daunting however I really enjoyed the experience. 

DK: How do you feel the cup run has gone so far both as a team and personally, having faced some strong sides so far - including two great goals for you? 

TA: I couldn’t ask for anything more from both myself and the team, we have come up against different challenges and we have overcome them all so far and hopefully we can do that one more time. Getting the goals I have on the way is just a bonus! 

DK: What are you expecting from tomorrow's game, and how much would it mean to you if we win? 

TA: I expect them to come and throw everything they possibly have at us and we definitely respect the level and standard of football that they play. Being at Bloomfields tomorrow night hopefully we can use that to our advantage as I don’t personally believe they will be able to be as expansive and we can capitalise that with our hard work and endeavour. To win it would be massive because we truly do have an opportunity to get into the second round proper. 

DK: Will you approach tomorrow's game any differently? 

TA: I think we will all approach this game as any other, we know what’s at stake however it doesn’t change the fact we will be playing against the same opposition and if we do all the right things well we have every chance to win the match. 

DK: Should we progress, what do you make of the draw for the first round? 

TA: I think it’s a great opportunity even though people may have wanted a team in a higher league I think it’s a good draw because we have more of a chance. Of course not being naive and thinking we would win it as it’s still a higher league opponent but the groups of lads we have we are brimming with confidence. 

DK: What do you make of the start of the season so far, and how far do you think our recent form could take us for the rest of the season? 

TA: It’s been almost too good of a start because of the expectation and almost making a team a scalp for people to have a swipe at however we couldn’t ask for anything more. I believe if we keep everyone fit and together there is no telling how far we could take this season!

PREVIEW | TOM ROTHERY INTERVIEW 11.10.2023 | YORK CITY V NEEDHAM MARKET 14.10.2023 | EMIRATES FA CUP 4TH QUALIFYING ROUND |

Assistant Manager Tom Rothery previews tomorrow's trip to York City. 

DK: How will you treat Saturday's game?

TR: Like any other cup game to be honest. We will prepare some analysis on them through audio and visual and then work on those bits on the training pitch to prepare the lads as best as we can. Obviously the time we have is limited but we will do that and then on the day of the game as we’ve done that preparation work we will then focus mainly on us. How we play and what we do that can cause them issues hopefully and what we do to try and contain their threats.

DK: What's the mood been like in training going into Saturday's game?

TR: It’s good the lads are disappointed after Saturday but we’ve spoken briefly about that and now the focus is purely on Saturday. 

DK: What will you be expecting from the lads on Saturday? 

TR: No expectation as such. The message from myself or Kev is consistent when it comes to what’s deemed as a big game, don’t play in fear. From my perspective it’s always about trying to be the best version of ourselves. Ultimately if you do that then you can have no regrets. 

DK: How important is it that we travel to York with better away form to the majority of last season?

TR: I haven’t really thought about last season aside from what we spoke about at the end of that season and in pre season. We all knew we had to be better and that was the real drive from myself and Kev. So far I’d say we’ve been a lot more consistent not just away but at home also. Our performances have been better and the results would suggest that too. The changes we made to the squad have helped and so that’s pleasing but we still have a small squad so keeping everyone fit is really critical and that is tough at times especially with the schedule we’ve had recently. 

DK: Equally how important is it that other than last Saturday that we've been consistent home & away recently?

TR: Whilst I don’t think we played well as we have recently I still think more times than not if you replayed Saturdays game we should win it with the chances we created and the possession we had. We didn’t though so we just need to move on from that and the message has been really clear from Kev and I. We set standards and we look to hit them every training and game day and more times than not the lads do that and that’s what we will be looking for Saturday. So far we’ve shown that consistency but equally we are only in October so the desire is to have important games in April and May. 

DK: How do you reflect on the cup run so far?

TR: It’s been good, we’ve not conceded had 3 tricky away ties, no really easy games but we’ve dealt with them professionally and then dealt with the replay against higher opposition well also. The revenue it creates helps the club so that is also pleasing and the buzz you get from progressing is good for the players and supporters creating days like Yeovil, Burton and now York is good for all of those reasons and to raise the profile of the club also is a huge plus. 

DK: What are you expecting from York (i.e. playing style, tactics, formation)?

TR: At the level they play we know they’ll retain the ball well and I’ve seen that for myself. I expect a certain style and formation but I don’t know what changes they’ll make on the day but once we have the team news I believe I’ll know the shape and we will deal with that on the day if it’s different to what we expect which is what the lads will get from the analysis. I’ll keep that for now close to my chest.