HTFC PROGRAMME 2113-14 DESIGN Issue 21 | Page 3

THE VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT with ROB SMITH Good afternoon all I would like to welcome the Gainsborough Trinity players, Management and Directors to Keys Park this afternoon for what promises to be another very tough encounter. I put out a bit of a rallying call last week for the fans to stay behind the players and at Boston last week the support was fantastic. Those who attended applauded the players off the field after a four nil defeat, when on this occasion they were more than within their rights not to! I was appalled by our display, and I apologise to all fans for that performance. I can take a defeat, but the way we surrendered was embarrassing and the goals we conceded were goals that I would not expect to witness on a Sunday morning. One thing we have guaranteed in my time here is that we have been difficult to beat and that every player gives all they have, but on Saturday the players let themselves and the Club down. On the league front we are still well placed going into the last ten games, everyone has to play one another around us, so if we can secure five wins I am sure this will see us get a play-off place and this would be an amazing achievement. On the injury front, it was great to see Neil Harvey back on Tuesday and we are just hoping Dave Macpherson, Wayne Riley and Nathan Blissett will all be fit for today. Kris Taylor has started his chemotherapy and we are still hopeful that we may see him in a Hednesford shirt before the season end, once again thanks for your terrific support for Kris. Enjoy the game today and get behind the lads as always ROB Having said all of this, we had a frank discussion and everyone was determined to bounce back on Tuesday against Birmingham City with a positive performance and we did just that. Against a very strong and fit outfit the players put in a real shift and I thought deservedly won the game, albeit after extra time due to giving away two more soft late goals. It gives us a semi final to look forward to at Tamworth and that should be a great game. thePitmen 3