A welcome headache for Johnnie
Johnnie Jackson is facing a big selection dilemma after seeing our squad step up to the mark in our opening two games of 2023/24.
A bullish 0-0 draw at Grimsby Town on the opening day of the League Two season was followed up by a dramatic 2-1 victory over Coventry City in the Carabao Cup – meaning we head into Saturday’s game against Wrexham (3pm kick-off) with a spring in our step.
Here our manager talks selection headaches, upsetting the odds in the cup, learning from fellow coaches, the departure of Alfie Bendle and facing off against the Red Dragons.
HOW DIFFICULT WILL IT BE FOR YOU TO PICK THE TEAM AGAINST WREXHAM AFTER SO MANY STRONG INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES?
It will be a hard 11 to pick! I’ve spoken about competition for places a lot. You always want people to come in from the start and off the bench to make an impact. We backed up a good performance against Grimsby in the midweek cup game. It’s going to be a welcome headache for me.
Definitely! It was probably my best moment in management so far. It was superb – the nature of the win against a team two divisions higher, the way we scored the two goals to come back, the way the stadium was bouncing under the lights – it had all the ingredients for a special night.
We want to keep them focused on what’s next but I do think they should look forward to it at the same time. They should enjoy the fact that their performance has earnt them the opportunity. Let’s not shy away from it, it will be a great occasion for us all. Between now and then there’s a lot of football to play, we won’t be looking at that game before we look at the ones that come in-between it.
I try to keep it quite relaxed and try not to pry too much into what they thought about us as a team. It’s nice to talk football with other coaches. For example someone like Mark Hughes last season, to speak to someone who has done what he has done in the game, it’s good to pick his brains because we’re all in the same boat.
Sharing experiences is important. It will be good to talk to Phil Parkinson afterwards, having played for him. It will be a funny experience in a way.
Alfie leaves with everyone’s best wishes. He’s a lovely lad. He expressed that he was keen to play regular football. But that’s something we can’t guarantee to anyone, it’s on the player to show they deserve that chance. He found himself down the pecking order in midfield with the emergence of Morgan Williams alongside the new players that we’ve brought in.
He has sought out a new challenge. We felt it was a move that was best for all parties – especially with the incomings that we’ve done, something had to give. I hope he goes on to good things.
They’re strong, physical, really well organised and they’re a massive set piece threat. They’ve got good players that I feel have ability that is beyond League Two level in some cases. Their resources have allowed them to get those sorts of players.
We saw what they could do when they won the National League – I think with the ambitions of their club, they’ll be looking to go again this season. We’ll be looking to get in their way tomorrow to stop that from happening
