James Gibbons has credited the impressive never give up mentality and hard work of the team so far this season as central to the team’s success this campaign.
The defender discussed how the improved organization throughout the entire club has helped to boost the side week in week out on the pitch and spur them on to make sure they are achieving high standards.
Gibbons pointed out how the mentality of the players in difficult games has improved this season, as when things aren’t going to plan they are able to battle back and come away with something, as shown in the 2-2 draw to Mansfield Town, where they twice came back from behind.
The desire to fight for every ball until the final whistle is something that the gaffer has called for from Gibbons and his teammates, and the full-back added how this year the mindset of the team is a stronger one.
The focused attitude is not just evident during games, with Gibbons talking about how everyone works hard in training to impress the manager and fight for a place in the team, with high intensity work showing the competition on offer for places.
He said: “I think this season we’re a lot more organized from top to bottom and throughout the club, I think last year games wise, we’d go a two down or goal down and we’d sort of crumble and we knew it wasn’t good enough.
“It’s how the gaffer wants us to play, it’s sort of the basics as well, the never say die attitude, the gaffer loves that… and this year it’s a lot better.
“It’s healthy competition, everyone’s training every day to put them in gaffers mind and give him a tough decision at the end of the day.”
Gibbons has been a standout performer for the side so far this campaign, with the likes of Tom Pope picking him out as a key player in the side, and Gibbons discussed how he is playing with a lot of confidence on the pitch.
He added how the feeling of playing with confidence is shared throughout the team and how much of a positive impact that has had on games, with everyone wanting to play their football and show what they can do.
That confidence from Tuesday’s win away at Macclesfield Town will now be taken into tomorrow’s long trip to Leyton Orient, a game that Gibbons knows will not be easy but maintains the belief they can come away with the points.
“It’s always good for a player when you’re playing well and you’re breeding confidence, so it’s good for me but you’ve got to take it a game at a time and just improve on what you did last week.
“Taking a win into another game, it just gives you confidence and when you play Tuesday, Saturday and you’re winning games and you’re playing well that’s the best thing in football.
“We know they’re [Orient] down there but you can’t underestimate them just like any team in the league, it’ll be a good atmosphere down there and there’s a few away fans making the trip down so it should be a good game.”