Senior Press Assistant Ben Wiley sat down with First Team Manager Luke Garrard ahead of our Boxing Day visit to the Hive to take on local rivals Barnet FC, full transcript below: –
Ben: Luke, another late, late winner against Harrogate Town on Saturday, but despite the win, you saw plenty room for improvement?
Luke: I’m a perfectionist, and always look for improvement. I felt our first half was not at the levels we have set in the last seven league fixtures and was fortunate to not have been a couple goals down, but we showed true grit to force our way back into the game. I felt the shape and personnel change helped and to score late on again shows a belief and fitness levels that are key to winning vital points
Ben: And Tyrone Marsh came off with an injury problem during the second half, do you have any update on him?
Luke: Tyrone has recovered superbly, he went straight for a scan and that came back very positive, which has settled Tyrone mentally. The medical department have done fantastic with him and he will be involved away to Barnet on Boxing Day
Ben: It’s Barnet up next on Boxing Day, who are also in a good run of form, what kind of game are you expecting on Thursday?
Luke: It will be a tough test, I say it week in week out, every side have their strengths and weaknesses and we need to make sure we are playing to our levels. It has the “derby” feel about it and I’m really looking forward to the game, both sides have hit form and find themselves in good positions within the league and I can imagine both dressings room will want to have the early bragging rights over the Christmas period.
Ben: And it’s 3 games in 7 days over this festive period? Is that something you love about English football?
Luke: I love the fact I don’t have to go out shopping, to be playing 3 games in 7 days is tough on every team within the division. We’ve played 26 games already and that’s a pull on teams with limited squads available, like ourselves. We have to box clever with the next three matches and look to freshen things up to enable us to have the best opportunity of getting the points return we have targeted over the Christmas period.
Ben: Thanks for talking with me Luke, good luck to yourself and the team on Boxing Day.
Luke: Thank you Ben.
