Winger Jordan Gibson produced an excellent finish just ahead of the break last weekend, and it was the perfect way for him to stake his claim as he returned to the starting line-up, albeit in a slightly unfamiliar role.
Speaking about his accurate finish this week, he said: “I’ve missed that feeling. It’s obviously been a long time since the last one, and you do kind of miss that feel of it when it goes in.
“It’s good for my confidence and I think it’s one that will just give me a little bit of a boost. It was really good to see it go in.
“I had a few crosses before that in a similar area, but when I got the pass from Mox I thought I might as well go for it and take him on. I managed to get half a yard and cut it across goal, and I was pleased with that. Goals have been few and far between this season, so I’m delighted with it.”
And he revealed a personal as to why finding the back of the net had a little bit of extra meaning last Saturday.
“My mum was here, and that means a lot because I’ve been away from home since I was 17,” he explained. “I went to Rangers, then Ireland, Bradford, and now here.
“She gets to as many games as possible and it’s nice for her to be able to come and watch me and for me to produce goals, because that makes her happy. That’s another reason why I was delighted to score.
“And it was a big goal before half time, it gave us a little bit of a cushion and something to take into the second half. Getting it at that time takes a little bit of fire out of them as well, it deflates them a bit, so it was massive.”
With Joel Senior missing through illness, it was a needs mist situation with that position needing to be filled on the right hand side.
“I think it was Khan I was playing against and he was sharp,” he commented. “As a winger myself, and as an attacking player, I thought I’d have a bit of an idea of what he was going to do, but he kept touching it away from me and I couldn’t get near him, to be honest.
“I’ve played there a few times, and I’ve played quite a few positions, so I think I’m more than comfortable in any area of the pitch. It is something new, something different, and I treat it almost as a learning experience.
“It was something where I was able to say, do you know what, let’s get out there and test myself in this position. I thought I did ok, second half especially.
“I didn’t know until an hour before the game that I was playing, but he’d mentioned it to me on the Friday. He asked how I would feel if I was played at wing back and I told him I’d be happy.
“I just want to play football, to be honest. Joel was ill, and I’m a bit disappointed for him because he’s worked so well to get fit after a devastating injury. He comes back, scores, and then he’s ill for the following game. I kind of wanted him to play, to be honest, because he deserved to.
“Like I say, on the Friday the gaffer mentioned that there was a possibility that I might play there and I just had to be ready. Then I had to get out there and do it, and I feel I took my chance.
“For the first 20 minutes last Saturday they pinned us back. Their winger was quite high and I couldn’t even go and get at their full back, so the gaffer changed it around a bit and he pushed me further forward.
“That helped us as a team to win the ball back a bit higher. It’s a role that could suit my game because I feel like I can offer quite a lot attacking wise. Defensively I feel like I was winning headers and competing, so it felt ok.”
With competition for places high, he spoke again about the need to be patient, but also to be constantly ready for whenever the nod to play comes.
“It’s difficult, I won’t lie,” he said. “Obviously you want to be playing every game but there’s a lot of players in the squad and people are coming in and doing the business. You can’t be too disappointed.
“One thing I’ve learned over the years is that you’ve just got to be ready and you have to make sure that when you get your opportunity again you take it. You do want to be playing, and when you aren’t you’re disappointed, but it’s always about what’s best for the team.
“The gaffer has been brilliant. He speaks to me quite a lot and I think he wants me to do well. It’s not even just about football that he talks to me about, it’s my personal life in general, and that’s because he wants to get the best out of me.
“He wants to improve me as a person and as a player, and I have the utmost respect for him. He doesn’t have to do that, but he cares and he’s trying to help me to take my game to the next level. I have to do my part in that as well and work as hard as I can to produce in the best way I can.
“Since he came in I think his persona and the way he comes across is just good for everybody. We can all see what he’s done for the club and what he’s done for us, and he gives his all for us, so it’s only right we do the same thing back.
“I think it’s massive if a manager trust you and he knows he can select you in a variety of positions, and you know you’re going to do a decent job for the team. It's something I’ve prided myself on for a long time, being versatile, and being able to play in different positions.
“I think it can only help me and the team. A lot of the other lads are like it as well, and that flexibility in the team is a big plus for us.”
“And if I’m not starting, I have to do what I can to get back,” he continued. “Alfie [McCalmont] came in a couple of games ago after we got beat against Mansfield, and I wasn’t myself that night, I know that.
“He came in and did really well, he’s a great player. I’ve had to just bide my time and that’s why I said earlier, when the opportunity comes you just have to take it.
“But whoever plays, it’s a great group and I think you can see the banter in the changing room is excellent. It’s a similar group to last season in a way, obviously there are new faces, but it’s the same core.
“I feel like we had the togetherness last season but this season there’s something special. Hopefully we can really do something with it. Hopefully with the experienced players coming in this season as well, I think you need a little bit of experience to help out.
“There are quite a few young players in the team so to have the likes of Hunts, Dev, Denno in there, I feel like there’s a mix and it’s a good one. It’s a great dressing room and it would be absolutely brilliant if we could do something.
“We have to enjoy it. You'd rather be this end of the table than down the bottom. Most of the pressure on last season was difficult, but this one we’ve just got to relish it. It's an opportunity, they don’t come around often.
“A promotion on everyone’s CV, I’d love that to be honest. We've just got to keep our heads down, keep doing what we’re doing and not let it affect us. There's plenty of teams around us and it’s a tight table, but if we just keep doing that we doing and try and pick up as many points as possible. I'm sure we’ll be up there.”
“We've earned the right to be in this position,” he continued. “I know people are going to look at the fixtures and think it’s tough, but you’ve got to beat the best to be the best.
“If you want to get promoted, and do something this season, you’ve got to beat them teams. I'm looking forward to the next 12 games. I know the lads are as well.
“We've got to go into those games with a positive mindset and not become too worried about the result at the end of it. Just do what we’ve been doing as we have all season, and it will take care of itself I'm sure.”
His last word was on the support.
“It’s just brilliant the way the fans have backed us, it’s massive,” he told us. “The away support has been excellent, and it’s good at home as well.
“Away you walk out and see so many fans and it makes you want to perform and send them home happy. We really appreciate the support and it’s the last little push now – 12 games to go, so let’s do our part for them as well.
“We’re on a run, and while you’re on that you need to keep trying to go one more, one more, keep the run going, because I know a lot of teams around us would be happy if they were on this run as well.
“I know a few teams have fallen off a little bit. While we’re on the run we’ve just got to keep it going, make it four, five, and keep going to the end of the season.”
