The last interview – What Gary Johnson said after final game
» Is it a feeling of relief after that? When you are 1-0 down, you want to try and get the game back and the lads did that. We were poor in the first half, they definitely had the first half and were in the ascendancy.
We had to pick it up, be brave, be strong, be men and come out and the second half was mostly us. Scotty has done his job, with a fantastic save and he was one that had a little scream up with me in the dressing room so at least two of us wanted to win it and the other boys showed they did too when they came out for the second half.
» At half-time, what happened? Everyone had a few words and we had to try and liven them up.
There are a few who are young and inexperienced and don’t say much, but we had to make men of them a little bit and with all due respect to them they came out and played like me in the second half so at least we’ve seen it and we know it’s in there.
» You maybe took a bit of a gamble putting Manny Duku on the bench, but it paid off
Yes, as managers we all take gambles. We all do things for a reason and we don’t just throw 11 names or 14/15 names up in the air and see what comes down.
We know Manny is a good finisher and he doesn’t mind getting into those dangerous areas and it was a great bit of play from Alex Addai and a great finish by Duku so it turned out well this time and over a season you hope your decisions turn out better more than no so good.
» Did you fear the worst for yourself at 1-0 down with four minutes left? That’s all past now, they will sing that every time we are 1-0 down and it’s not in my hands.
I am going to do my best as I do all the time and things get reported and people will be shouting those things anyway as they have made their mind up. But I am pleased for the lads, which is the main thing. I don’t like the negative support, but they have turned up and the lads I thought deserved their support at the end of the game and during the second half.
» Scott Flinders has been terrific in all four games so far hasn’t he?
He has yes, he’s a man who has been there and done it and he knows what it takes.
We have some men in the side, Boyley and Mullins had to work very hard against their two big uns up there and if you look around there are two or three we’ve had to bring in who are finding their feet still. Jacob Maddox looks one of the best midfielders in the league and some are hanging back. That was the good thing about today, they deserved something for their efforts in the second half.
» Can you describe what you were thinking when the penalty was taken? Like any true supporters I was gutted and I was willing Scotty to save it and I was very pleased that he did. It gives me energy to your team when you could be 2-0 down.
After that we gave it a right go and got the ball in their box, we had wingers on the ball, full-backs on the ball and that’s how I wanted us to play in the first half. They play quite narrow and we needed go down the outside, but we didn’t do that other than Jacob in the first half. When we changed it slightly all of a sudden the wide lads and the full-backs were getting in the game.
» Chris Hussey went on for his debut and looked at class act
He’s had 500 league games, which is why we’ve brought him in. Debayo looked a bit nervous, he still does good things, but when I see someone smash a free-kick over the goal, it was obvious he was nervous. Hussey showed what he does and I thought Kalvin affected the game and so did Duku. People may ask why I didn’t start with all of them, with hindsight it’s easy to say, but anyway, we have come away with a point.