GAFFER PICKS THE POSITIVES
Posted on: Sat 26 Apr 2008
By Matt Cecil
Wanderers manager Paul Lambert was keen to reflect on the positive aspects from Saturday's encounter with Notts County which saw a much-changed Blues side slip to a first defeat in seven games.
Having secured a play-off spot last week with the 1-0 win over Chester, the Scotsman rested several key players for the trip to Meadow Lane and told wwfc.com after the game that he was pleased with the efforts of his makeshift squad:
"For most of the game I thought we were excellent and we just needed to find a goal but the effort was there and the lads were brilliant bearing in mind that some of them haven't played in a long time," he said.
"It would have been easy to play our strongest team and pick up a few injuries but I had belief in the ones who came in and we've come through the game without picking up any knocks so I'm pleased."
The Blues take on Bradford City in the final game of the regular season at Adams Park next Saturday but Lambert dismissed comments suggesting that the team might suffer from a lack of momentum going into the play-offs if they struggle to beat the Bantams:
"It doesn't matter about momentum - we'll be ready for the play-offs, there's no question about it," he confirmed. "It doesn't matter who we get drawn against in the play-offs because we'll take anyone on and give it absolutely everything that we've got."
"Other teams around us have lost today so maybe they did what we did and rested players, but my only priority is my team and if everyone pulls together then we won't be far away."
Possibly the biggest positive to take from Saturday's match was the debuts given to young pair Matt Phillips and Robbie Rice, who were both introduced as second-half substitutes at Meadow Lane, and Lambert said that he was proud to see them take their bow:
"I was delighted for the two lads," he beamed. "It's really good for the football club to have these players coming through and that's three players who have made their debuts now this season after George Daly played for us over Christmas so this club's in a great shape with its youngsters."
Coming soon: We hear from more of Blues' first-team stars for their views of Saturday's match and a look ahead to the play-offs.
Get more from the Blues by signing up to our Wanderers World service. Enjoy exclusive interviews, match commentary, extended highlights, behind-the-scenes footage, special features and much much more for as little as 10p per day. Click here for more details.
Wanderers manager Paul Lambert was keen to reflect on the positive aspects from Saturday's encounter with Notts County which saw a much-changed Blues side slip to a first defeat in seven games.
Having secured a play-off spot last week with the 1-0 win over Chester, the Scotsman rested several key players for the trip to Meadow Lane and told wwfc.com after the game that he was pleased with the efforts of his makeshift squad:
"For most of the game I thought we were excellent and we just needed to find a goal but the effort was there and the lads were brilliant bearing in mind that some of them haven't played in a long time," he said.
"It would have been easy to play our strongest team and pick up a few injuries but I had belief in the ones who came in and we've come through the game without picking up any knocks so I'm pleased."
The Blues take on Bradford City in the final game of the regular season at Adams Park next Saturday but Lambert dismissed comments suggesting that the team might suffer from a lack of momentum going into the play-offs if they struggle to beat the Bantams:
"It doesn't matter about momentum - we'll be ready for the play-offs, there's no question about it," he confirmed. "It doesn't matter who we get drawn against in the play-offs because we'll take anyone on and give it absolutely everything that we've got."
"Other teams around us have lost today so maybe they did what we did and rested players, but my only priority is my team and if everyone pulls together then we won't be far away."
Possibly the biggest positive to take from Saturday's match was the debuts given to young pair Matt Phillips and Robbie Rice, who were both introduced as second-half substitutes at Meadow Lane, and Lambert said that he was proud to see them take their bow:
"I was delighted for the two lads," he beamed. "It's really good for the football club to have these players coming through and that's three players who have made their debuts now this season after George Daly played for us over Christmas so this club's in a great shape with its youngsters."
Coming soon: We hear from more of Blues' first-team stars for their views of Saturday's match and a look ahead to the play-offs.
Get more from the Blues by signing up to our Wanderers World service. Enjoy exclusive interviews, match commentary, extended highlights, behind-the-scenes footage, special features and much much more for as little as 10p per day. Click here for more details.
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