Matt Robson on the Colchester game
Wide man Matt Robson marked his return to action on Friday night with an early goal which ultimately earned his side a thoroughly deserved point.
We caught up with to talk about his goal and the game shortly after full time.
“That was a massive result for the lads,” he said. “We had a little chat before the game, as a group, and we spoke about what it was that we needed to do. The pleasing thing is that we did it.
“Colchester had their fair share of the possession but we stuck to our tasks and we got the point. We’d have taken that at the start of the game and it’s a foundation for us to build on for next week.”
“It’s difficult for everyone when you’re going through a run like the one we’ve just had,” he continued. “The dressing room is full of lively characters but it wasn’t a great place to be off the back of three bad defeats.
“It’s been tough, but the response this weekend was fantastic and we fully deserved to get something from this game. This has given a lift to everyone. We all needed something like this – the manager, the fans and the lads. Like I say, there’s now a platform for us to build on.”
Speaking about his goal, he said: “It’s not a bad way to come back into the team. I didn’t know I was in the side until today [Friday] so to get a goal within five minutes of kick off, after being out for a few weeks, is all you can ask for. I had a couple of little efforts before the goal so it was nice to see that one nestle in the bottom corner.
“I was a bit tired towards the end of the game but it is a great feeling to walk away with a goal and a point. I’ve been building up to my first full week back in training since my back injury and when you watch the lads they look a completely different team to what we’ve seen in the last three games. The attitude, commitment and positivity that everyone has shown in those training session all came through in this game. We have to be happy about that.”
“I was pleased with how I was playing but I actually got a bit of a telling off from the gaffer at half time because I wasn’t getting in at the back post enough,” he revealed. “I had to remind him that David Amoo is a lot quicker than I am and it was really difficult to keep up with him! That should come, though, because this is the first of what I hope will be a good run of games for me. I’ll keep working away and trying to get on the score sheet.”
“I think people are probably right when they say it’s a first goal league,” he told us. “The fact that we didn’t concede first was massive for us.
“We got a big lift after the goal and I thought we all played really well. We let them have the ball a few times but we defended from the front and we worked hard right through the team.
“Mark [Gillespie] was outstanding. He’ll be relieved that he hasn’t had to pick the ball out of the net too many times and everyone deserves a big pat on the back. The way we defended our goal was something we all needed to see. We know that part of it hasn’t been good enough but we’ve shown that we can do it now.”
“The back problem I get is just one of those things,” he explained. “I’m the type of person it happens to but I don’t let it bother me too much. Once I’m playing again I certainly don’t go into games holding back on tackles or runs because of it. I give everything in every game and the injections and treatment I’ve had should mean that it’s all behind me. I’m here to help the team out as much as I can now.
“Hopefully the season starts here for all of us. We can’t hide away from the fact that Brentford will be another tough game but we have to go there to feeling positive and determined to get something. If we stick together, which we’re determined to do, then we should be fine.”
“Leicester will be a great game Tuesday night,” he concluded. “You’d expect them to be good on the ball but, if we’re as solid as a unit as we were in this game, then we’ll be tough to break down. You never know, we might sneak a surprise result but I think the really important thing is that we keep this type of performance going in the league.”
