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Interviews

Cox updates prior to Barrow cup fixture

9 August 2021

Interviews

Cox updates prior to Barrow cup fixture

9 August 2021

First team manager Neil Cox has provided an update ahead of the Iron's Carabao Cup first round trip to take on Barrow.

United head into the game looking to progress to the second round for the first time since 2017, and seeking to bounce back from the opening day league loss to Swindon Town on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Tom Billson came off with a knock sustained in the first-half at the break, while striker Tyrone O'Neill also had to be replaced after coming off with a knee injury.

He said: "We're looking forward to it and we'll have a strong squad going up. It's going to be a good challenge for us, and we will make one or two changes because we have to, due to the circumstances after Saturday.

"Tom's gone back to Coventry to see their medical team so we await news from that, while Tyrone has gone for a scan on his knee and we'll have to wait until Thursday to get the reports back until we know. It's fingers crossed on both of them, but not looking too good at this moment.

"There are a couple of other kicks and strains but most of them are okay and have trained today in our light session. We'll have a look at them on Tuesday and go from there."

He added: "The mood is really good in the camp. The players just think they let themselves and the fans down. They worked hard, but the biggest disappointment is we didn't pass the ball as well as we did during pre-season. It's only the first game of the season and we won't get too down on everything. We have a long season ahead of us and will make sure we turn it around.

"We watched back parts of the game and went over a few things this morning, and also worked on some things on the training ground."

Talking about the opposition, Cox added: "They've had a change of manager (with Mark Cooper appointed during the summer) and we've watched how they played on Saturday in a difficult first game away at Stevenage, so there will probably be a different approach at home. It's about what we're going to do though, but we've done the homework we need to do.

"For the three goals we conceded on Saturday, we defended poorly and they took advantage. We need to cut the mistakes out, have a bit more belief in us and we look after ourselves.

"It's about getting confidence into us. A lot of teams through the league will have lost their first game and we won't get too negative about it. Let's make sure we as a football club learn from it. We saw positives in the game but need to work on the negatives and do what we need to do."

See much more from Neil Cox on iFollow Iron.


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