My reflections over the last few games. We changed shape for the last three games and were looking to stop conceding goals. For me as Manager you don’t get a better result than 1-0s. That means this team can grind results out - we’re as we were before we were conceding goals late on.

Everyone in this squad is working very hard and that has been reflected in results of late. We went into the Witham match last Saturday full of confidence even though we knew they were on a good run of form. So my team talk to the boys was that if we can keep working as hard as we’ve been doing - and listen to the game plan - we will be ok. At Witham we had a slow 15 minutes where they kept us under pressure, but I feel now we are resilient and can deal with that - as we showed. We always score goals and as long as we keep to the game plan, good times will continue.

It was pleasing to see Joe Bruce back at Grays and I thought after 15 minutes he settled into the game well and was very good - along with the whole of the back four. I can’t fault anyone’s efforts at the moment and that goes for the subs and squad players equally. We now have com- petition in every position which - as man- ager - makes my job even harder but that’s exactly what we need to keep everyone on it. We are the in form team at the moment losing only three times in 14 games. We go into tonight’s Dagenham game in a good place, but as we’ve had quite a few games some players have little niggles - so I must be careful with a few players not to exhaust them. Bish hamstring, Slabs calf, Barry ankle, Stan hamstring. Although I want to play as strong side as possible we must make the right decisions on team selection today.
It will be a tough test for us as Daggers have a strong side and will be tough opponents. But I feel we have enough depth in squad to give them a good battle.

For me the Christmas period is so impor tant. Some players’ mentality can change coming into this period, and as Manager it’s my job not to let that happen. The mentally strong teams have a good run over Christmas and we will be looking for our team to keep grafting at this vital time of season. I thought the togetherness and the spirit amongst players and fans alike was top draw at Witham - please give the same tonight.

Jamie