Interim Manager looks ahead to Saturday's big game at the Checkatrade.com Stadium
We caught up with Dean Saunders today ahead of another massive game for the Reds on Saturday at home to Gillingham.
Injury news
Lewis Price will be assessed today after his concussion last Saturday. There are protocols we have to observe after something like that but we hope he will be available. Dean Leacock should be able to train which is a bonus because we’ve not had him since Boxing Day. John Cofie is available but we’re still awaiting international clearance for Kelly Youga.
Gillingham
They’ve been on a good run and will be very tough opposition. Justin Edinburgh has gone in there and made them hard to beat. I played against Justin and he was a tough defender and a great pro. He’s learned his trade at Newport County, been successful there and taken the next step up the ladder. Anyone who thinks because we’ve won three in a row that another will just follow is mistaken.
Momentum
The situation can change so quickly. A fortnight ago before we played Colchester we were eight points behind Crewe. Now we’re a point ahead of them, that’s how much it can change in the space of two or three games. With Easter coming up the situation could look a lot different again after Easter Monday but we do have some momentum at the moment and the boys believe they can get a result in every game they play. Confidence is high but we have to keep doing what we’ve been doing which is working hard as a unit all over the pitch. That’s been one of the big things of the better results we’ve had.
The fans
Gillingham are going to be bring 1,000+ with them on Saturday so the atmosphere should be great. Our fans have played their part in recent games. Last Saturday they knew we were going to have some defending to do and they got behind us in the second half. I’d like to think our performances have been worthy of their support in recent weeks and we have to keep that togetherness between pitch and the crowd going. It’s been a massive part of our improvement in recent weeks.
