Jack Armer is the only outfield player to have started all 18 league games this season, with his steady performances having been a feature in all 97 appearances he’s had for the club so far, since joining on an initial one-year deal back in the summer of 2020.
Speaking about his run in the side this season, he said: “I’m really happy to have played in all the league games.
“Getting minutes in the tank always feels good, it’s just about keeping fresh and not picking up any injuries so I can do everything possible to help us pick up three points on a Saturday.
“I didn’t know I was coming up to 100 appearances, I don’t really follow that kind of thing. I remember when I first signed I said I’d have been happy with ten appearances in that season.
“I didn’t play until Christmas, but I think I ended up with more than 20 appearances. I know last year wasn’t great for us as a team, but I think I played over 40 games in the league.
“This year it will be nice to get more games under my belt and actually do something with the club at the same time.”
“My confidence has really grown during my time here as well, especially this year with us being up at the right end of the table,” he continued. “Last year was a bit tricky but when you’re up there and flying, everything just seems to go right. As long as we keep winning games and playing well then we’ll stay up there.
“I should probably have scored more goals than I have when I think about it. I had a couple of half chances on Saturday, but as soon as the ball leaves your foot you know if it’s going in or not, and it just seems to be not going my way at the minute.
“I’m sure once one goes in, I’ll get a few more.”
His role this season is one he’s taken to well, with attack turning to defence, and vice versa, in the blink of an eye, often with him right at the heart of all of it.
“Playing wing back is a lot harder than just playing as a normal full back,” he confirmed. “I’d like to add a few goals because I have had a few good chances.
“I’ve created a couple and as long as you’re doing your bit at the back as well then it can only help the team.
“Just like you do with the shots, when you put a cross in you know straight away if it’s a decent ball or not.
“For that one at Harrogate I looked up and saw that it was going to land straight on Edmo’s head, and I trust him from four yards out not to miss. It’s a nice feeling to set someone up.
“Depending on who we play against and how they set up I feel like me and Fin on the other side, whenever he plays, we seem to get a lot of the ball.
“Especially when we’re switching the play, we seem to be the out ball. I enjoy playing with Mels [Jon Mellish] when he’s running up and down like an idiot, I feel like we work well together, and we do get quite a lot of space out there.”
Manager Paul Simpson revealed after Saturday’s home draw with Walsall that he’d noticed a real sense of frustration from a group that clearly felt it could have done better.
“We went ahead twice at Harrogate last Tuesday and we had chances to go and win the game, but we made sure we didn’t lose in the end,” he told us.
“Saturday was a bit similar to the Crewe game at home, I don’t think it was tired legs but it was maybe a bit of a dull game.
“I think if we’d scored early in the first half we could have gone on and won by two or three goals. It’s just about taking chances and keeping going.
“If we aren’t getting beat it means we’re still picking up points to keep us up at the top end of the table.
“Our home record is really good and everybody says if you can pick up points away from home and win your home games, then that’s what gets you promoted. If we keep that going there’s no reason we shouldn’t be up there when we get into the final few games of the season.”
“We are frustrated when we don’t win games, which I think is a good thing,” he added. “It shows we’re demanding of each other.
“In the second half on Saturday I don’t think we created many chances but we had a few good ones in the first half.
“When we came in for half time you could see everyone was frustrated because we wanted the three points. It’s just about putting it right this weekend and picking up the win at Salford.
“We’ve only lost three games still and two of them were against the top two in the league. Stockport was a blip, but as long as you beat the teams below and around you, you’ll do alright.”
What can’t be contested is the team spirit, which can be seen in abundance on and off the field.
“There is a good feeling within the dressing room,” he agreed. “We’ve struggled with injuries at times, but everyone has stuck together. We’re all pulling together and working hard.
“We are quietly confident. When we were up at the top of the league under Chris Beech we were going into games expecting to win, whoever we were playing, and there is a bit of that confidence within the changing room this year.
“As long as we keep picking up results that feeling won’t go away. I look at the table now and again and have a look at who beats who, but in this league everyone always seems to beat everyone at some point.
“Realistically it comes down to the last ten games and who can finish the best and most consistently. Hopefully we’re up there.”
“Salford should be a good game,” he concluded. “I know we’ll take plenty of fans and a few of my friends who are Preston fans are going to come, with their games being off now.
“Hopefully we can pick up another three points.”
