Tom Flanagan chatted to the media ahead of our trip to Charlton tomorrow.
Town travel to The Valley having not played for a fortnight due to last weekend's game against Bristol Rovers being postponed.
Tomorrow's game, though, kick-starts a frantic end-of-season run-in that sees us play nine matches in just 37 days.
Speaking to the assembled media, Tom discussed the importance of the players getting some time off last week ahead of the last few weeks of the season.
And the defender also discussed his fitness and his targets for the rest of the campaign.
ON THE PAST FORTNIGHT WITHOUT A GAME:
"I think the break came at a good time for us. Everyone got out of each other’s hair which I think was good for the group.
"Sometimes I see the boys more than I see my Mrs and my kids so it was nice to spend more time with them.
"It was strange on the Saturday, but I enjoyed it and now it’s back to work.
"Everyone was pleased to see each other when we came back in and we’ve really hit the ground running.
"We have done quite a bit of hard work this week which put us in good stead, not only for this game but for finishing off the season strong which is what we want to do."
ON NINE GAMES IN 37 DAYS:
"We are kind of ticking the games off now in terms of getting through them and doing well and getting the performances we want.
"There is not too much that the manager can teach us on the training pitch now – we've had enough of that in respect of he has given us everything we need. It's now down to us."
ON HIS FITNESS AND PREPARATION:
"I tend to do the same things over and over again because I feel like they work.
"We are at the stage of the season now where we have all got our fitness – we are all ready.
"I think the recovery side of things is so big now.
"And it has been a big difference playing here rather than at my previous clubs with the amount of travelling we do.
"We don’t do anywhere near the amount of travelling I’ve done previously – that is a big benefit.
"And then not going away internationally has helped as well because I always struggle after that.
"Coming back when everyone has had a little bit of time off, you might have played two games and during Covid three games, it’s nice to be on a level playing field with everyone."
ON TARGETS FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON:
"We just want to finish strong and not just peter out.
"We don't want to have any dead rubbers at the end of the season, there is nothing worse than that.
"I think as a group, who we have in the dressing room this year, I think as a group we'll struggle with dead rubber games if it comes to that, and we don't want it to come to that.
"So we want to go into the last game of the season with something to play for, that is important for us.
"If it doesn't go well we definitely won't be finishing in the top half.
"I think the top 10 is the bare minimum that the dressing room will accept, and I don't think that is something anyone wants to do.
"But we are playing tough games and if the luck is against us and that (finishing 10th) happens then I think in the dressing room we will come away thinking we have fallen short rather than we have done well.
"That is just the mentality of the group."
