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Club News

Steve: "A Hard Fought Win For Us"

10 October 2015

Club News

Steve: "A Hard Fought Win For Us"

10 October 2015

Alex boss gives us his post match reaction from Oakwell following 2-1 win.

"We know we where we are in the league but it keeps us in touch and gives us something to build on with Gillingham coming to us next week."

"It is a great result and 7 points out of 9 on the road. We know we have got to start collecting some points at home but winning games will give them believe and confidence. We came into the game today missing a number of players and the bench was made up of mostly our Academy graduates. We had Ryan Wintle just back injury, Jonah shouldn't have been on the bench really but had to be because of numbers and we gave Toby Mullarkey a shirt only yesterday. Callum flew into Manchester this morning to join up with us, so we have had to deal with a lot this week and it is a great win for us.

"When they went 2-1 behind they started to get the high balls in the box whenever they could and it is a relief to the defenders to have a keeper who will catch it or punch it. It makes a massive difference and we remained dogged in our defending. Big Ben and Guthrie were terrific and the full-backs struck at it, even when Baills was on a booking. I thought that at different spells of the game they all did some good things.

"I was pleased with the free-kick from Ryan, it was a terrific strike but we are struggling to hold onto a lead for any length of time at the moment and that is frustrating. It has come from a set play and I will have to see if Ben (Garratt) was blocked off there. I don't know it was a foul and will watch it again but when we needed him to come and collect those high balls or punch he did that in the second half.

"I thought we played some decent football in the first half and we were fine but they changed it a bit in the second half and it made it harder for us to press them but we hung in there and maybe got that bit of luck with Lauri's deflected winner. We didn't keep the ball as much I would have liked in that second half but what they did show was they are prepared to fight and dig in and I cannot fault their effort.

After the 2-1 win at the home of his former club, Steve told the club's official web-site: "We knew the way we set up today that we were not going to create a host of chances but we thought we could contain them and frustrate them and that is how it went. We set up to make it hard for them to play through the middle of the pitch, where they are strong, and we let their centre halves have the possession. We were organised and disciplined in our jobs and when we had to dig in they did. It was a really hard fought victory for them and I am pleased for them and the supporters who came here today to support us.

. Steve Davis praised the work ethic of his players as they recorded their second win of the season with a real resolute display at Oakwell. It was backs against the wall stuff at times but with Nugent and Guthrie getting their heads on most things, it provided a platform for Lauri Dalla Valle to pop up with a priceless winner with eight minutes remaining on the clock

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