Chris Wilder on Gillingham
Manager Chris Wilder heaped praise on to his players for their win at league leaders Gillingham last night. An 84th minute goal from Alfie Potter secured United a deserved win, and afterwards the manager told Yellow Player:
"All credit to the players they’ve gone out there and put in a magnificent performance from the first minute to the 95th and fully deserved the win. Gillingham consistently grind out results home and away, but my team have competed tonight and shown what we are about".
"The trick now is to keep this going and maybe I’ll be smashing them and keep reminding them of the Gillingham performance 24/7 because that’s what we are capable of producing. I don’t think it’s a fluke or a one off we just need to show that a little bit more".
In a much changed line-up, United's two centre-halves drew special praise from the manager:
"Jake Wright and Michael Raynes were immense tonight, they are good players and we have a good solid group of players here at the club. We’ve always brought decent players in to the football club. I keep saying it but I've not been able to pick as many as I have wanted to because of injuries and there’s not always been that fight and competition for places for obvious reasons.
"But one thing I have said to the players is that the ones that are on the edge of it sometimes have to do a little bit more to get in to the team and to stay in and I thought they did that magnificently tonight. We have always been together as a team, I've got Tommy Craddock and Beano who have been left out tonight: I've made decisions and choices but whether those two come on in the 5th minute or the 95th minute they deserve a special mention for their conduct and the way they have gone about things tonight as I heard nothing but encouragement from them on the bench for the players on the pitch".
Having beaten the top side in the division United now take on second placed Port Vale at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.
"We have to do better against Port Vale on Saturday," Chris said "and give our supporters something to shout about at home because we haven’t recently. We’ve been OK in matches recently but our home form must improve, and if we can be brave and bold on Saturday and stay positive, I don’t see why we can’t get another result."
See the whole interview plus the thoughts of matchwinner Alfie Potter and match highlights in Yellow Player.
Saturday sees another massive game at the Kassam Stadium against Vale. Book your place today by calling 01865 337533 or visiting www.oufctickets.co.uk.