Hill looks ahead to Colchester visit

First team manager Keith Hill has previewed this Saturday's fixture, as a home game against Colchester United (3pm kick-off) starts a run of two matches in quick succession against teams in and around his side positionally in the League Two table.

Barrow visit on Tuesday night, but firstly the focus is on the match versus the U's and backing up an improved performance and clean sheet away at Crawley Town last weekend.

He told iFollow Iron: "We're well prepared, the players have got some good rest into their legs too, and we have two very good home games coming up where the pressure is on the opponent. We're hoping to put some pressure on them with good performances. I thought aspects of last weekend's game at Crawley were very positive, and we want to take that into these two matches.

"We were on the front foot in the second-half and got after the opponent. We were lucky in the first as we weren't quite in tune with how I wanted, but in the second we were better. Hopefully we have gained confidence from that, but now we have to perform with real courage at home and make a significant impact psychologically on the other teams around us if we get a good result this weekend.

"Like I expect from most teams, Colchester are competitive and striving for success in their domain but we want to make sure we put a marker down and create as many positives as we can for the supporters going into next season. I want to have a mentality of positivity from the performance individually and collectively. I want to see signs of progress and want to see that we are becoming a team that can manage the opponents in and out of possession.

"We have to improve on that and there's no question about it. It's been a topsy-turvy season but there's no reason why we can't finish it strongly.

"If you get consistent good performances, you will get good results, and yield points. I think it's important we build on good performances where I think after previous ones we've fallen short in the next game. We want a bit of continuity so we can start building.

"We have 11 games and every one is a great opportunity for the players and football club. I seek to create positivity going into next season.

"We've got a relatively healthy squad, looking back on last weekend. We've got no new additions but we're not any weaker, so I'm pleased going into this weekend's fixture against Colchester."

Hill explained further the injuries ruling Ross Millen (ligaments) and Mason O'Malley (thigh strain) out for the foreseeable future.

"They're both out for a sustained period of time, with respect to their injuries, and we're going to have to monitor the situation. I'm not going to rule them out for the rest of the season, as there are 11 games left, but we've got to make sure they're fit. Who's to say, both players could be highly influential in the last four or five games, but I'm not too sure at this moment in time. At the minute, they belong to the medical department now and I'm just going to focus on the players we have available."

See much more from Keith Hill and Harvey Cribb on iFollow Iron.