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Interviews

Post Forest Green | Tom Flanagan

28 January 2023

Interviews

Post Forest Green | Tom Flanagan

28 January 2023

Defender Tom Flanagan chatted to the press following our dramatic late win over Forest Green Rovers.

The Greens arrived at Montgomery Waters Meadow just 48 hours after appointing Duncan Ferguson as their new manager.

And they were leading as the clock ticked past the 90-minute mark - with Swansea loanee Jordon Garrick scoring with a deflected strike from 25 yards in the first half.

But manager Steve Cotterill made a raft of substitutions in the second half with Ryan Bowman, Rekeil Pyke, Tom Bloxham, Killian Phillips and Elliott Bennett all entering the fray.

And in the 94th minute, Rekeil pulled us level with a driven strike from just outside the box. Then in the 98th minute, Ryan grabbed a sensational winner - from a Killian Phillips assist.

Those goals lead to wild celebrations at Montgomery Waters Meadow - scenes Flanagan very much enjoyed.

ON THE DRAMATIC WIN:

“It may be the third time we have done that this season (win in stoppage time).

"I think that says a lot about the group and how hard we work - we go right to the end.

"You sit in the training ground in mid-week and you see they (Forest Green) have got a new manager and you're a bit like we are going to be right up against it here.

"It doesn’t really matter what league position they are in. They have signed nearly a whole new team and with a new manager coming in they are fighting for their jobs.

"We were really up against it but I think it’s a sign of a good team winning late when you have huffed and puffed.

"Obviously the subs made a huge difference. Everyone in the group knows their jobs when they come on or when they are starting.

"I think we have an identity. I think we are a little bit more rough and ready than we have been previously and that is why we are winning these games.

"Today they sat off us and we were our own worst enemy at times. That was frustrating for the group but the togetherness shone through.

"If you look at the squad everyone is giving everything at the minute and long that may continue.” 

ON GOING FOR THE WINNER AFTER THE LATE EQUALISER:

“We could have stuck 11 men behind the ball and just been happy with where we were but we kind of had that smell of blood. We knew that we had worn them out.

"It was kind of the same as the other night (at MK Dons). We kind of sensed we had worn them out. We went for the throat and killed them off."

ON REKEIL AND RYAN'S GOALS:

“(For Rekeil's goal) we don’t do that enough on the edge of the box - have a touch and shoot.

"Shippers did it the other week which was a great finish.

"We've conceded goals like that - they are very hard to stop.

"And Bowman hasn’t really had too much game time and he comes on and shows why he is so good.

"It was a really composed finish and brilliant scenes at the end.

“It is one of those ones where it will go down in the memory ‘that 2022/23 season - the late goal.’ 

"It will be spoken about for a long time and that’s brilliant.” 

ON BEING TWO POINTS OUTSIDE THE TOP SIX:

“There is a long way to go. We are not booking our hotel for Wembley just yet.

"We have got some big games coming up and if we can accumulate that promotion form of two points a game - which we have been blowing out the water recently - but obviously people will try to stop that.

"We have got a target and we will keep that to ourselves at the minute.” 

ON HIS FITNESS AFTER COMING OFF:

"I'm okay. I can’t get away from a knock at the minute.

"I get a knock a game - I think it is my blistering pace, just touching it around too many people!

"But it's all in at the minute, I'm just trying to work really hard for the group.

"The manager is playing me that little bit higher up in a three rather previously I've played in a two and done a little bit more shouting than running.

"Now I am doing more running than shouting but it was just a little knock, nothing too bad."Generic-Web-Banner-Home-22-23.jpg


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