Hill: I have full faith in this group

First team manager Keith Hill has previewed Tuesday night's game against Woking in an interview with Iron Player.

The boss started by further reflecting on Saturdays loss at Maidenhead, after he was asked if his views had changed in the 48 hours since the result. He said: “Not at all. In fact, I’m even more convinced that we’re going to have a really successful season. I think on Saturday, for a 15 minute period, we actually beat ourselves.

“That’s not to take any credit away from the opposition as their tactics worked really well, especially in the first half. They slowed the game down and we fell for it during that 15-minute period after the drinks break. The drinks break should have been a reminder for us to focus on what we’re good at, but it wasn’t, and it seemed to be a switch off point."

Hill then continued to say: “We fell victim of that situation, but other than that, I can’t fault the players, and their attitude and application. This is my group now and I 100 per cent believe in this group,  trust them, and we will learn our lessons quickly. There was a collective effort after half time, when I made the substitutions, to get something out of the second half.

“It’s a great opportunity to learn. Not everything was perfect because we beat Yeovil, and not everything is wrong or broken because we got beaten by Maidenhead at the weekend. It’s progress that we have to look for. Before the season started we knew we had to stop the rot, and I think we’ve stopped the rot.”

The first team manager then spoke about his Iron squad, adding: “I think we’re building: the processes are still there, and the foundations have been laid. This is my squad of players and I’ll keep re-emphasising that because I brought these players to the football club. This is my squad, and I do trust and believe in them.

“I hope the supporters will continue their belief, even though they were disappointed with a 15-minute period just before half time, at the weekend.”

On which players are available for the game against Woking, Hill said: “We’ve had one or two phone calls over the weekend, and there are potential injures and fatigues heading into Tuesday night. There was a lot of journey time to and from Maidenhead, and a 96-minute game under really severe conditions because of the heat.

“Bearing everything in mind we have to assess and decide who can, who can’t, and who's available for tomorrow's fixture which is one we’re looking forward to. 

"You have to be assessed over 46 games, and there’s mini assessments of where you’re going to be, or what you need to do. My overriding feeling after the weekend is that I’m more convinced now, than I was after the Yeovil game, that we’re going to have a successful season.” 

He added Owen Foster and Kgosi Ntlhe missed part of training last week through illness but both returned on Monday.

On Tuesday's opposition, the boss said: “They had a great result [at the weekend against Dagenham] and listening to their manager he was really pleased with the way the team performed after they got beat at York. He was happy with the work rate, the energy, the industry that they had to use at the weekend, and I don’t think there will be too many changes to that starting lineup."

See much more from Keith Hill and Reagan Ogle on Iron Player.