Interview | Sarll Pre-Barnet (H)

The following quotes are from the full pre-game video interview on the Club's YouTube channel, which can be found here.

Darren Sarll was pleased with last week’s win over Scunthorpe United and hopes that his side can continue their impressive form.

Sarll was also delighted with the Cards’ first clean sheet since November.

“It’s really important [to keep a clean sheet], I think we defended very well, especially second half, not that we had to defend much,” said Sarll. “There was a period in the second half when they had a few oohs and ahhs, corners, free kicks, shots that were blocked, things like that, I think the confidence that the team took from that period of defending was the reason why we kicked on and improved.

“To go to Scunthorpe, irrespective of their league position, it is Scunthorpe United and to not give up a shot on target all game was very pleasing, and the clean sheet was very pleasing, because we’ve been very deserving of scoring more than one goal in lots of games. So, it’s been really important we’ve scored those goals, because without the twos and threes, we wouldn’t have collected as many wins. It’s been a nice balance to the season so far, keeping lots of clean sheets and winning by one, or winning games but maybe giving away one and scoring more goals, and I quite like the balance of that.”

The visit of Barnet to the Laithwaite Community Stadium presents a challenge to the Cards’ recent run of form, with the Bees themselves riding a wave that has seen them climb to fifth in the National League table. Just two defeats in their last 17 games suggests a tough game in prospect for Sarll’s men.

“Excellent [side], really excellent, really good recruitment by Dean [Brennan], the team works very, very hard and that’s reflected in his recruitment of the types of character that he brought in,” said Sarll. “They are a really good side, they’ve got good momentum at the minute, they’re in good form, these are tough games."

In the reverse fixture, Barnet took all the points in a 2-0 defeat for the Cards, and Sarll hopes that lessons learned from that game will help benefit his side as they aim to continue their impressive run of form.

“I thought the game at the Hive was very tight actually, it swung in their favour, with the chances they took, I can remember having quite a few chances in the second half, especially when we made changes to the team and the shape of the team, thought we made good chances, maybe hit the post a couple of times, you can always use that hindsight now in order to try and improve what your presence is going to be.

“We looked at how those changes in the game may help us from the start of the game come Saturday, and I think that’s really important when you’re playing teams for the second time that you learn those lessons, both players and staff, all of the games now are going to be hard-fought, and if you’re going to win these games, it’ll be very hard and well-earned, such is the nature of the competition.”

Meanwhile, Sarll said that the squad availability hasn’t changed much from last Saturday either, although was pleased to see a couple of injured players fully back in training.

“Rohan [Ince] did a little something today, so we’re touch and go on him, but really pleasing that [Ricky] Korboa and [Luke] Wilkinson have had full weeks for the first time in weeks, I know Ricky was on as a sub on Saturday but to have Luke back is a big plus, good player for us, and Joe and Scott have been very very good, they deserve a lot of credit, especially Joe.

“To have that depth with central defenders is advantageous for us, and it’s not just any central defender, it is one of our big players, he’s a big player for us is Luke. [Reece Grego-] Cox has had a little breakdown this week in his rehabilitation, so we need to assess how bad that breakdown is and if it’s going to add more time on. We talk about how well Joe [McNerney] and Scott [Cuthbert] have done, how well [Padraig] Amond and [Rhys] Browne have done for us, and I thought Marcus [Dackers] played very well when he came on Saturday, I think they’ve carried that can really well.

“Rhys has been a really good signing and so, the depth of the squad has got us through missing two or three really big players, the players deserve a lot of credit. So I think apart from Jermaine [Anderson, suspended], Grego-Cox, [Sid] Nelson, I think everyone else may be fit.”

Check out the Barnet (H) Match Guide and Ticket Details here.