Aldershot Town manager Tommy Widdrington post-Woking
Transcript
00:00 Tommy, a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Woking today and potentially with the pressure in the second half could have won that game?
00:07 Yeah, I think both teams probably could have lay claim to possibly winning the game.
00:13 I thought we had slightly better opportunities in the second half than they did and Hugo by a crook they kept the ball out of the net, which is fair play to them.
00:21 But we move on to the next game now, it's gone. We managed to keep a clean sheet, which is something we haven't been able to do in the last two games.
00:28 It's something that's really important, I feel. One goal would have won the game for Everstate, as it happened, but I think we certainly deserve to score more than one goal on the day.
00:37 Was that something you targeted after the last two games, just to work on that defensive line?
00:43 Yeah, we've said this a few times, we trade off one or two things because we like to play attacking football and we want to create chances, but you can't just out-score teams all the time.
00:51 You've got to be in the game just to win 1-0 and we've done that on occasions here against Kidderminster and Halifax.
00:56 So, all of those ingredients are needed to be a successful team. But listen, last season we took no points out of the two games, so to take one in the first game is a positive in itself.
01:08 It just shows you there has been a bit of a shift between the two clubs.
01:11 Obviously, you've had plenty of big games and memorable moments already this season. With it being the derby and what it means to the fans, did you make any play of that or try to play that down?
01:20 Not really. Some managers do that and put too much pressure on themselves and beat the players. Listen, I've not been well for the last week or so and I've seen a lot of interviews and a lot of managers and people who run football clubs putting so much pressure on the next game by calling in a six-pointer.
01:35 As long as I have two eyes, two ears and a nose, I've never seen a game gain you six points. It's three points or one, as the case may be, or none.
01:42 So, you know, other people talk about six-pointers and the biggest games of the season. We've got plenty of big games coming up beyond the next one.
01:50 And packed out EBB today, a word on the fans and the atmosphere they created?
01:55 Well, from where I was stood, it looked like everybody was behaving themselves. Plenty of voice from both sides of the fans. Obviously, the numbers that have turned out to get behind us have been outstanding all season.
02:04 And let's hope we have another bumper crowd at their place.
02:08 And obviously, both sides have now had a bit of a look at each other, obviously, because Michael's quite new in at Woking. How do you think that potentially affects things ahead of the return fixture?
02:16 Well, just that, really, it's a bit like a sparring match, isn't it? You've had a couple of rounds with each other, now you know what's coming, I suppose.
02:21 But there's probably going to be changes in both teams between now and then, depending on how the lads regroup and reshape to see how they are fitness-wise.
02:28 But, yes, we tend to approach games as confidently as we can, knowing what we want to do. And obviously, we take into account and respect the opposition, whoever it is that we play.
02:38 But now the players have seen them up close and personal, they know what's coming. And we'll have an idea of how we can hopefully win the game.
02:44 Jordi was obviously known as the 'sponsors man' in the match. So, he did his job there. Were never called upon today?
02:50 Yes, I don't think he had a great deal to do. I thought he dealt with crosses well, he put a lot of balls under his bar from set players whenever they could.
02:58 And he made one save towards the end, which, because it was 0-0 at the time, it made it probably a bit more magnified to the people behind me.
03:04 But I thought he was the least busy of the two goalkeepers, by a long joke. And for that reason, I'm pleased for him.
03:12 Because, listen, he doesn't get enough credit. We've conceded a lot of goals this season and not a lot have been his fault.
03:17 So, when he does make one like he did today, it was an important one at 0-0. But it's an anomaly for us not to score a goal.
03:24 So, hopefully we can remedy that next weekend.
03:27 I was going to say, you've been free-scoring all season, haven't you? So, it's just one of those days.
03:30 Well, actually, I didn't think I'd see a 0-0 at all in a game that we played this season. But we have now. One's enough, I don't want to see another one.
03:37 And what's the build-up now? Just looking ahead to the USA?
03:41 We're packing in the morning for a flush and see how everybody is, fitness-wise. And then they'll be giving a couple of days rest before we build in over the weekend into the Monday or Tuesday game, I can't remember.
03:52 Monday.
03:53 Monday game. So, yeah, it's slightly different. But we'll get them in tomorrow, have a look at how they all are, count the fingers and toes and make sure they're OK to go again.