Fri Oct 02, 2015 11:04 pm
' Russell Slade and Matt Connolly '
' Slade & Connolly Talk Brighton '
03/10/2015
Manager Russell Slade and defender Matt Connolly have given their thoughts ahead of the weekend's game against Championship leaders Brighton.
Speaking to the Official Site in the pre game press conferences, Slade said that firstly this would be a fantastic yardstick for how far we have come given Brighton's extremely bright start to the Championship campaign.
'Every week is a yard stick for our progress as we`re playing new opposition in the first half of the season. However, Brighton are the ones that have set the standard in the Championship so far this season. Chris Hughton has done a great job in organising them and sorting them out. They`re looking a different proposition from the side that struggled in the bottom half of the table last season.'
Slade went on to say that we were looking forward to the game though and we had every intention of doing our best and hopefully taking all three points from them and ending their unbeaten run.
'We`ll go there and we`ll do our best to get a really positive result. It`s a game that you have to embrace. It will be a tough challenge, but all of the players are together, can trust the man next to them, and are willing to put their bodies on the line for each other. The focus is always fully on the team. We're looking forward, attempting to progress and I think we`ve done that well. I`m always looking for improvement though. As a group we can get better still.'
As for Connolly, he was next up to field the questions from the press and he echoed the gaffer's thoughts that it would be a tough game for us, but they all are in the Championship and we have to find a way to take the maximum return from it.
'It`s a challenge as they`ve started very well, but everyone is fighting for points in this division so it`s always a difficult game no matter who you play," said the centre-half. They`re unbeaten for a reason though, as they are obviously a good side, but that run will come to an end at some point. We`re focussed on the game. We had a good win against Charlton last weekend and we want to build on that.'
Connolly went on to say that he felt we had 'really' turned ourselves around this year, so obviously we want to kick on further now and continue playing the good football we have, and dominating games as we have done at points - but the results have to come because he feels we've lost games we should've won so far.
But the group are in good confidence and spirits and long may that continue.
'We`ve really turned it round this year. We`re playing good football and we`ve dominated games, deserving to win even in the couple of matches that we have lost. We`ve got a really good squad and we`re full of confidence. Our team spirit is very similar to the times that I`ve been promoted from the Championship. The boys all get on, we all work hard and we all push each other. You need good spirit to get out of this division - we`ve definitely got that and we`ve got quality players as well.'