Chris Agutter spoke ahead of another crucial home fixture as his side prepare to welcome Gateshead, a team sitting just behind them in the league table.
With three consecutive victories already under their belt, momentum is building, and the squad is approaching the weekend with confidence and clarity.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge. The group seems to be in a really good place, we’re progressing, performances are definitely improving.”
“I thought in the week we were very good. Across the whole squad, the lads are coming to the side. done really well, and as I said, post-match gave us some really positive selection dilemmas.”
The head coach noted that the squad has taken real strides forward in recent weeks, with performances steadily improving and competition for places sharper than ever. With the atmosphere around the club transformed, Saturday now presents an opportunity to take another significant step.
“It’s really good energy around the place, but as we said from day one, the lads have been great and it’s always been a case of reminding the lads of how good they are and how capable they are.”
“When we’ve obviously picked up some really positive results on top of that, we’ve added a couple of really good additions. It’s helped the group move forwards and regain confidence and puts us in a really positive headspace, but equally, we’re well aware of where we’re at and that we’re nowhere near where we need to be.”
“We really like it. So we’re really enjoying it. And I think the players have the same feeling as us in terms of it’s a good place to be at the minute. We just need to keep going and keep working hard and keep moving forwards.”
Agutter was keen to emphasise that although recent form has been impressive, there is still considerable room for growth, praising the collective attitude in the dressing room and expressed confidence that the group could maintain and even improve their current trajectory.
“We haven’t had to do a huge amount, really. Obviously, there’s slight tweaks in terms of the way that we play and the way the team’s set up, I think there’s a difference in terms of the way that we work on the training pitch. But ultimately, you’re only as good as your players and the lads have been excellent, so all credit to them for their hard work for them taking on board the new information.”
The Head Coach highlighted the squad’s mentality as a key driver of recent success, pointing to their resolve at Truro City last week as a reflection of the standards they continue to set. That resilience, he said, is something the staff identified in the group from the very beginning.
“I just look at the group and just felt they needed a bit of help and support but most importantly, we felt it’s a really good group.”
“When obviously we were talking to the owners of the football club about the role, that was something I was very keen to make clear that it’s a very good group of players. It was one that I felt and the staff felt that we could really help move forwards. There’s a lot of quality there and they’re just proving us right, which is credit to them.”
Attention now turns to Gateshead, a team who share similar footballing principles and who will pose a technical, possession-based challenge.
“They [Gateshead] are possession-based, expansive. They want to have the football in terms of style, they’re probably more similar to us than most teams in the league, I’d say.”
“Again, possession-based, play through the thirds, use the goalkeeper. as a means to attract pressure to then open up opportunities to play forwards from there, open up the free man ahead of it. So, yeah, we’re clear on what we’re up against and we’re respectful of what we’re up against.”
“The Southampton game in the week was a really good lead into the Gateshead game because obviously Southampton are possession based, they try and play through the thirds a similar type of style, shape and structure is different, but generally the behaviours of the team are quite similar from an attacking perspective.”
“We know what we’re up against and we’re really respectful of what we’re up against. And we know that we’re going to need to continue to improve and build our level of performance if we’re to pick up three more important points.”
Despite Gateshead’s poor recent results in recent weeks, Agutter insisted that his side will not underestimate them and will prepare with the same intensity as always.
“We see every game as an opportunity to do that because, again, we believe in the players we’ve got in the building and we believe in what we do, so for us, it’s very much a case of not paying too much attention to where teams are at in the league table.”
“It’s more looking at each opposition in its own right and, again, trying to understand their strengths their weaknesses and then coming up with a plan to try and exploit weaknesses and negate strengths whilst also making sure that we continue to do what we do very well.”
Competition for places continues to intensify, with several players staking their claim through strong performances in recent games.
“The players have got to earn the opportunity and then when they get it, they’ve got to take it, so I think that’s a healthy environment to be in. I think you only have to see it with Junior Eccleston. Obviously, he’s not the biggest name at the football club, but he’s come in and done incredibly well and been really impressive. He’s keeping people out of the side that have got a bigger reputation and played a million and one more games.”
“If you’re good enough, you’re old enough, and that’s the case with everyone at the football club. George Vorster, for example, who’s been out on loan with Burgess Hill, has been doing incredibly well. We’re looking at bringing him into the first team squad as part of a reward for his brilliant progress within the academy and whilst out on loan, but equally, he’s someone that we think can help us move forward.”
“Again, it’s very much about if the level of performance is where it needs to be. It doesn’t matter whether you’re 18, 19 or 33. We’ll do whatever it is we need to do to win games of football.”
