Gary Johnson Looks Ahead To Tomorrow

Last updated : 01 October 2010 By Thetashkentterror

Posh boss Gary Johnson
Peterborough manager Gary Johnson spoke to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and the Evening Telegraph ahead of his side's game at Brunton Park against Carlisle tomorrow, Johnson describing the match as 'a bit of a six-pointer' :


" They are a side going well at the moment, I said that when we played Huddersfield after a defeat that it is good to go and play a team that is up there with you. It is a little bit of a six-pointer because they have got the same points as us, just above us on goal difference, and they have been going well.

" So, we have got to go there, we have got to be strong, we have got to be men, we have got to put this (the Notts County game) behind us until on this last game and the events until we hear what the official news is. But, meanwhile we have got to go out and play our football, we have got to pick up our points and we have got to get ourselves back into that top two as quickly as we can.

" We are going to have to bounce back from the defeat because any side that wins the league, was it Arsenal that year that didn't lose any?, but generally you are going to lose games and you have got to come back from that.

" The leagues are that close that even the best teams are going to lose ten or twelve games and it is how you recover from that, and we have got to keep doing that. The season is not over after nine games because it is a home defeat, the season is just starting. I said I would assess the first part of the season after ten matches and this is out tenth fixture. "



" We are a new group, we are just learning a bit about each other, they are picking up my philosophy and they will get better and better hopefully as the season goes on. So, we can look forward to the last ten because hopefully by that time we will have sorted out exactly what we need in preparation for being in the top two.

" I am sure Carlisle will be confident, 4-0 away at Hartlepool is a good result, they have had a couple of decent results at home as well. They are up there with us and they are one of the teams that are at the moment competing for a top two place. We have to go there and prove that if we are going to win the league then we have got to be the best team over 46 games. This one will be a good one to prove to ourselves that we are just ahead of Carlisle.

" It will be an interesting battle between our attack and their defence for sure. All our team are happy when we are going forward, we are obviously letting in too many goals at the moment so we have to have a look at that. The way we set up and play means it's no surprise that we win 4-2 and 5-2. We attack and we play to please our crowd which we have pretty much achieved all season.

" Of course I'd rather win 5-0, but it's all about getting the balance right. We are a new group who have played nine matches together so I am happy with where we are. No team has had a great deal of pressure against us this season, but when they get near our box teams have tended to look dangerous against us. "



" We have also suffered at the hands of outstanding individuals like Brett Pitman, Scott Sinclair and Ben Davies, but we are working hard on that. Fans deserve to see a game played at a good tempo. That's what we try and do and it can be very frustrating to watch teams who want to waste time and slow things down from the first minute.

" It is a tactic teams will employ against us because they know we are capable of mounting wave after wave of attacks and they want to stop our momentum. It is something we will never do, but it is something we will have to overcome.

" We must make sure we don't get over-anxious, but we must get more cute to deal with it. I can also promise that we will never resort to any sort of theatrics, especially feigning injury. I've told my players that when they are down injured I want to see the ambulance, the fire brigade and the police called because I want to know that it's genuine.

" The defenders need to defend better when they are put under pressure, just like our flair players need to show that flair when we are going forward. We need to keep working on the training ground, which we have done, a couple of double sessions in working out quite what didn't go well, and this group of lads want to put it right. "



" Now, there is a difference between wanting to put it right and being good enough to put it right. I think they are, we have shown them, they have taken it on board and hopefully they can take that into the next few games.

" We have just got (Lee) Frecklington back, he played 70 minutes in the reserve game and looked quite fit actually, he looked the part. With all due respect it was Stevenage reserves so you have to be a bit careful, but he certainly showed his ability. The lads have been working him hard since he has been out, and he hasn't lost his touch at all and his fitness is getting better.

" So, he will definitely come along with us in the squad that is for sure, he has worked himself a place in the squad. So, we have got an extra one there and as they all start coming back from injuries we will have a lot more competition, which you need competition to keep everybody on their toes.

" Mark Little is nigh on fit enough to play 90 minutes, I think he is closer now. He is one that has been out a long time as well. There are some of them you want to get on the pitch if they are on the bench as quickly as possible if you need them and he could be one of those, but he could also start. We genuinely haven't picked the side yet, we are going to train up north on our way up and make the journey up and make our decision then. "