Towering Reds central-defender Marc Roberts spoke to the press this morning ahead of the away trip to Swindon Town this weekend.
Roberts discussed the feeling amongst the side after the Reds recorded their fifth straight win on Tuesday night against Bradford City, and how the team have turned their season around.
“I think the big thing has been sticking together,” explained Roberts. “We’ve brought a couple of players in like Adam Hammill who has had a big impact. The main thing though is the character of the lads, we’ve stuck together through the hard times and it is now coming good.
“The mood is no different, in football you just need a bit of luck on your side and in the past we haven’t had that. Nothing has changed, we’ve done the same things in training and the atmosphere with the lads is the same so I can’t really put my finger on it, it’s just about taking our chances on the day.
“If we keep going in the form we’re in, I know there’s always ups and downs in football but if we keep this up you never know. There’s always that one team who makes a late push for it and I don’t see why we can’t be that team.”
With games approaching thick and fast for the Reds, Roberts gave his thoughts on the busy schedule as well as the possibility of a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final.
“It’s a lot of lads only chance to play at Wembley.” Said Roberts. “It is every boyhood footballers dream so it’s adding a buzz to the camp. If we can get there and push on in the league then it will be fantastic considering where we were a few games ago.
“I think we’ve got a good squad. Everyone on the bench is ready, we’ve got players to come in and if we do get injuries it’s not a huge issue. I think in the previous few games that I’ve not played, looking from the side-lines we have played good attacking football and pinned teams back.
“On Tuesday we showed a lot of character to grind out the result, it wasn’t the prettiest but when you come up against teams liked Bradford you know what you’re in for and you have to put that sort of performance in.
“Swindon will be different as they look to play football, our philosophy is also to play football so it’ll be an end to end game. I think we’ve got the quality to over-turn them on the day.
“You always play a lot of games in football, we’d rather play them than train. There’s a lot of games over the next few weeks, we’ve got a schedule together.
After two recent appearances from the bench, Roberts is keen to work hard and get back in the starting line-up.
“It’s difficult but you have to accept it happens in football.” Said Roberts. “I need to keep working hard and we’re together as a team whether we’re in the starting eleven or not.
“You might get called upon during the game as I have a couple of times and when your chance comes you have to take it. My philosophy is to keep working hard in training, keep my head down and try get back in the side.”
