Winger Jamie Devitt ahead of the Stevenage game
Winger Jamie Devitt spoke to us about the Hartlepool game and about looking forward to a good performance against Stevenage ahead of the Easter Sunday training session at Brunton Park.“I thought we played well overall on Friday but the ball just didn’t seem to fall for us,” he said. “Even that chance at the end, where we had it cleared off the line twice and then Jabo hit the post, made it feel like it just wasn’t going to go in.
“Having said that I thought it was a solid performance and when you look back on it they didn’t have too many clear chances. It’s given us something to build on for tomorrow because that’s another massive game.”
Having pointed out that it was one of those days where, even through the warm up, you could see that the players were ‘on it’ he admitted that the fans behind the goal had played a big part in helping the players to get on the front foot.
“The crowd definitely helps with that,” he told us. “We were talking about it on the coach after the game because it does give you a lift straight away. It was the same at Crewe and Blackpool because you want to do well in front of them.
“We only wish we’d got all three points but I don’t think any of them will be too disappointed with the performance we gave. After Jabo [Ibehre] got his goal I thought we could have gone on and got two or three more. Even at half time we were sitting there feeling comfortable and I don’t think they really pushed us too hard after the break.
“It’s frustrating that we didn’t win but the equaliser was just one of those things. If Danny [Grainger] hadn’t connected so well with the clearance – if he’d shanked it or sliced it or anything – it wouldn’t have happened. I was just behind him and I saw him turn his back to it, so he knew nothing about it.
“It’s just that bit of luck we aren’t getting at the moment, but we know that you make your own luck in this game sometimes and we’ll change it tomorrow.”
And when asked if it was a dressing room which had a nervous edge to it, with so much at stake, he said: “No, not really, I don’t think it’s like that. We talk to each other all the time and if something isn’t right we make sure we discuss it and get it out in the open.
“It’s typical end of season stuff at the moment. I think there were six or seven draws in our division and teams losing who you wouldn’t have expected, so it does affect every club, wherever they are.
“We know we’ve had a bad 2017, we don’t need anyone to tell us that, but which other team could have had a run like this and still be in the play-off spots? I think we just need to stay positive and remember that it’s still in our hands.”
Speaking more about the home form, he said: “We owe the fans here a performance. They’ve obviously been really frustrated because they’ve only seen us beat Doncaster at home since the turn of the year.
“Everybody in that dressing room is excited for tomorrow because we can’t wait. Personally I’m enjoying the run I’m getting in the team and hopefully I can stay there. The more I play the fitter and sharper I feel and I think I’m getting more confident with that as well.
“The fans have been brilliant with me and it’s nice to know that they want me to be out on the pitch. I’m just there to do my job and hopefully part of that will be to excite the fans and to help the team to win games.”
One thing we know he does want to add to his armoury is the odd goal or two.
“Oh, yeah, that is so frustrating!” he agreed. “Nothing seems to be falling in just the right place. I seem to be a second behind it or after it, or something like that, and it’s getting to be really annoying. I keep looking back on all the half chances and we’re at the point where something is going to fall for me – it has to!”
With four games left to go the tricky wide player is under no doubt that his team mates are up for the challenge ahead.
“Absolutely no doubt at all,” he insisted. “We have a group chat and most of the groups I’ve been in before have been for people to have a laugh. Ours isn’t like that.
“It’s quite serious at the moment and the focus from everyone is that we need to pick up points. Every single one of us wants the club to be in League One next year and I think it’s exciting times.”
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