Managers thoughts after the away win at York
The relief at seeing his side plunder a late winner at Bootham Crescent this afternoon was written all over Micky Mellon’s face as he faced the local press. The Town manager was delighted to bank the points to arrest a slide which had brought five straight defeats away from the Greenhous Meadow, with James Collins’ 86th minute strike the first by a Town player on their travels since the Irishman’s strike at Northampton way back in August.“I think we all knew it was important to back up the good home form by getting a win away from home,” he said. “We knew it was going to be tough here with them appointing a new manager but I have to say we were in pretty much complete control for most of the game, if not all of it. We controlled the tempo aided by good possession of the ball and I thought it was a really good away performance. We might have scored more goals to make it a wee bit more comfortable for us, but I was delighted to see that go in at the end.
“It was total domination and I know how disappointed we would have been had we come off with a 0-0. That wouldn’t have felt great because we were so much on top but they stayed patient and kept passing it, kept trying to find a way through without rushing it and it was a fantastic result for us.
“We know what James (Collins) is all about, and we know that if you get the balls into the right areas he’ll get you goals. I was delighted for him and the whole group because we came here today trying to do what we’ve not managed before and that’s to pick up a win on the road and we can now look forward to a massive game on Tuesday night (against Bury).
Collins’ late, dramatic winner came right in front of the jubilant travelling support and Micky admitted he was surprised to see so many travel: “I couldn’t believe it when I came out and saw so many had come to watch us because we all know how far it is. I thought ‘wow!’ that’s unbelievable support and they stayed patient as well because they knew what we were trying to do and they’re a very educated bunch of fans. We knew when the right opportunity came that we’d have to take it and that’s what we did.”
Jack Grimmer was announced as a Town loan signing just an hour before the match with Micky jokingly suggesting he likes to keep the press on their toes. But the boss was pleased with his debut along with that of Anthony Griffith and Bobby Grant who also played their part in a first away win for Salop. “Jack’s a player we’ve known about for a long time,” said Mellon, “and we know all about his qualities. We’ve always known that if there was any chance of him being available, we’d be interested. I think anyone who came here today would realise what a fine young footballer he is. He gave us that wee bit more quality in the areas we like to play and he did fantastic today. Griff was excellent and did exactly the job we asked him to do to the last detail. He’s a real team man and wants to do what’s best for the group. He’ll sacrifice what he might want to do for the good of the team. He’ll sit in there and organise and do all those horrible jobs in front of the back three that needs to be done. And we all know what Granty can do. He was always going to get an hour and we’re delighted he’s got that under his belt.”
The gaffer said he was disappointed that Liam Lawrence had tweaked a hamstring in training that led to his exclusion from the squad, and both Lawrence and the suspended James Wesolowski stayed behind in Shropshire to rest up.
Andy Mangan had to be withdrawn just before the half hour and the manager explained how the injury came about: “He just got clipped earlier on when he got through one-on-one and I think he’s twisted his knee a bit as he got spun round a wee bit and landed awkwardly on the knee. We don’t know the full extent but should more over the next 24 hours.”
Mellon described as an “understatement” the suggestion that the post-match feeling must have felt better than the likes of Southend and Hartlepool. “It’s such a relief to get that one out of the way. We all know we should be doing a lot better away from home. I don’t think the performances have been too far away but the difference today was that we’ve nicked one late on and I’m really pleased with the way we managed the game today at a place that could have been difficult with them welcoming the new manager.”