Chris Wilder's programme notes for this afternoon's game
It has been a good start to the season and today we get a chance to carry that on against Wycombe Wanderers. Results have gone our way so far but nobody is getting carried away and we just keep going about our business the right way. The focus is always on winning the first game and then you move on to the next and so on. Our approach won’t change throughout the season.
We haven’t had it our own way in every game. Much as you would like to dominate each 90 minutes you know that other teams will have parts of games as well. This is a very competitive league with a lot of good teams and we know that in every game we will have times when we have to defend right, be tight and solid. By the same token when you are on top you have to be clinical and in the first three games we feel we have got it right. There is still such a long way to go but it has been very encouraging.
We made quite a lot of changes during the summer and I have been pleased with the way things have settled down. It is how you pick up points throughout the campaign, not just the first three games.
We have lost Sean Rigg and Jon Meades for the next couple of months which is a blow to us and to the players themselves but they will both have big roles to play when they come back. There is better news with Dave Kitson in contention again today and that gives us good competition for places up front again. It has been pleasing to see goals shared around the squad so far, something any successful club needs.
We were disappointed with the way we played against Wycombe here last season. They deserved to win, just as we deserved to win the game at their place last season. I understand the nature of the game. At this ground whenever the opposition bring a large following our supporters respond in a positive manner so we expect a good atmosphere for today’s game. They will be disappointed with their result last week and will have worked all week on beating us, but we will be ready and prepared and looking to get another win ourselves.
The Development Squad played their second game in midweek at Bournemouth. We have had two encouraging performances against clubs who have had established development sides for a few years now. The results have gone against us but the players will develop in their own time and are getting regular competitive games now, which can only help.
As and when those players get their chance then we know you will encourage and support them as you have done in every game so far. The players are doing the business and you have played your part superbly. When the fixtures came out and we were in Torquay in August I would imagine that many of you booked up for a sunny weekend away. Instead you got drizzle and storms, but hopefully an away win kept the smile on your faces. We will do our best to send you home smiling again today.
Chris Wilder