Gannon hails fans’ role in turnaround
COUNTY boss Jim Gannon heaped praise on the “twelfth man” at Edgeley Park after a week in which The Hatters returned to winning ways in the National League.
Before Saturday’s postponed clash with Dagenham & Redbridge due to travel delays for the southern-based outfit, County edged past former Football League rivals Hartlepool last midweek in front of the BT Sport cameras to grind out a first win in seven with a 2-1 win at Edgeley Park.
And Gannon, who had halted The Hatters’ five game losing streak in a goalless draw at Sutton United a week earlier, admitted that he was “thankful” to the club’s supporters after bouncing back from a dire September.
“I’d like to say a thank you to the people who’ve believed in me and the team, because last year we had a poor run and I was hearing doubts surfacing, but this time around, when I’ve walked the streets, I’ve encountered so much belief in myself and the team.”
“I think the fans responded as they did (on Wednesday evening) because they noted the effort the lads put in to try and keep that clean sheet.”
There was a lot of compliments from the BT Sport guys not just for the lads’ honesty, and the lads’ hard work, but for the fans, too - we needed that twelfth man at times.”
After a superb first half by the hosts, in which County raced into a two goal lead courtesy of talismanic centre-back Palmer and new boy Tom Walker - who had joined earlier in the week alongside fellow Salford loanee Devante Rodney, the visitors fought their way back into proceedings after the break.
Substitute Nicke Kabamba halved the deficit with just four minutes remaining, but The Hatters held on to claim a much-needed three points - and Gannon again referred back to an adage which has summed up large parts of County’s first season back in the National League so far, in both victory and defeat.
“It’s hard to say whether it was a deserved win - I say it again, you take what you can get from games.”
“Hartlepool made their changes in the second half, as we’d have done at 2-0 down. We had to change shape and adapt.”
“We’ve bemoaned our shortcomings in recent games, but I knew that there is seven or eight lads in the side who have the quality and it was just about showing that.”
The Pools parted company with manager Craig Hignett on the back of the Edgeley Park defeat, as County leapfrogged the away side into 15th place in the National League standings prior to Saturday’s postponement.
And the change of shape in the second half wasn’t the only adjustment for Gannon and company, as the former Northwich boss opted for a switch prior to kick-off going with Harrogate loanee Joe Leesley in an unfamiliar left wing-back role, ahead of the three centre-backs of Festus Arthur, Jordan Keane and Ash Palmer.
“Dan Cowan was ill so we went with Joe at the back there - and we also wanted to get Festus back in who was superb, and has been when we’ve needed him.“
“Joe and Sam worked incredibly hard on the flanks.”
“We know from the GPS tracking that we do that Sam Minihan is constantly working hard and getting up and down the pitch.”
Debutant Tom Walker, technically making his second debut for The Hatters after a brief non-contract spell in 2017, proved to be the match winner with his composed finish from a slick County move inside the half hour.
Walker joined on a three month loan deal from Salford alongside striker Rodney last week, before Gannon added a third new addition with left-back Tyler Garratt joining on a short-term deal until the end of 2019.
“I really think Tom Walker is a Football League player. What a platform he has here for the next three months to play football and perform.”
“I was really pleased with little bits of creativity we showed, like the short corner for the first goal that Tom was involved in. We needed a bit more punch and we’ve got it with Tom.”
Meanwhile, focus now switches towards Saturday’s FA Cup clash at National League North table toppers York City at Bootham Crescent.
The tie will likely be County’s last trip to the current stadium before York’s move next summer to pastures new, with the clash once again televised live on BT Sport at a later time of 5.20pm.
The final qualifying round against Steve Watson’s high-fliers is for a place in the First Round proper - with County looking to exceed their acclaimed cup run to the second round proper last season.