Manager Jim Gannon and defender James Jennings both gave their post-match thoughts on Saturday, as our pre-season campaign officially got underway with defeat to League One Fleetwood Town at Carrington.
Despite the defeat, Jim was pleased with the workout provided against a strong Fleetwood team, believing our opponents to be the benchmark as to the level the Club are aiming to reach over the next few years.
He spoke of the importance of players building relationships on the pitch over the coming weeks, with six Summer signings starting in the first-half, whilst he also praised the performance of some of the players that came on for the second-half.
There was also a special mention for Darren Stephenson in particular, after the County winger impressed in his first appearance on a football pitch in over a year, after recovering from a broken leg last pre-season.
Looking ahead at the further pre-season tests to come, Jim was keen for the players to show their capabilities of ‘going on the journey’ at the Club, and gain an insight into the level they need to be at to be a Football League player.
Hear all of that and more from the manager in the video below.
After making his first appearance in a County shirt in the second-half, defender James Jennings said it was good to be back getting minutes out on a football pitch again, and getting rid of the rustiness after five months without a game.
James also gave some insight into the decision to play him on the left-hand side of a back three, a position he has played before despite predominantly being a left-back.
He spoke of the surreal circumstances surrounding pre-season this year with such a late start, with the schedule almost being reversed completely in having to come up against the stronger Football League sides first, but was happy with the test that games like Saturday provide.
You can hear more reaction from James, including talk about the new training ground, in the video below.