The manager's notes in this evening's matchday magazine
There is no getting away from the fact that this period is the most difficult the club has had for a long while. It is still early in the season but we are well aware that we need to turn our run of results around sooner rather than later.
We have been missing key players during that run, experienced players who are best equipped to cope with a bad run and know how to turn them around, but our continued problem is that those players have missed pre-season and we are going to have to be careful how we bring players like Harry Worley, Peter Leven and Andy Whing back into the squad, with Liam Davis and Michael Duberry to follow.
I thought that Harry was different class at Rotherham on Saturday and it was good to have Andy Whing travel up with us. He obviously didn’t need to do that but everyone wants to try and help and do their part to turn things around.
After the Bradford game we had a chat with the players. We are very aware that people ask questions when you are on a losing run. They start to question the spirit, and the belief. I can answer those questions very simply. Having worked with the players I know they are 100 per cent together and 100 per cent committed to getting positive results here. Things will change and we have to believe that tonight is the night that happens.
Last Saturday we were only a post’s width away, after a magnificent save, from getting a result at the favourites for promotion who have spent a huge amount of money and had the luxury of choosing which four players to leave in the stand.
The supporters who travelled with us were superb once again but we know it is our turn to shine tonight. We need to do our part to lift the fans and get things going forward once more. The players need to produce what they have shown at other clubs, what they have shown in the Yellow shirt here before, and what they do in training every day. They need to do it in the heat of battle, and they need to do it now.
Last Wednesday the staff, the chairman and the management team went to a farewell evening for Kelvin Thomas. I would like to go on record and thank him for what he helped achieve here over the last four years and wish him, Liza and their family all the best for their future. We shared many great games and moments, but football moves on and we now need to work harder than ever to make sure there are many
more nights and games to enjoy and remember. Starting tonight.
Chris Wilder