With seven games remaining, promotion is still in our hands (should we beat Hull). We caught up with ex-SAFC midfielder Gordon Armstrong to take a look at the final run-in...
After the defeat against Charlton how do you rate our chances of automatic promotion?
There’s no doubt it’s going to be difficult with some hard games coming up, such as Blackpool twice and Hull away. Nobody ’s kidding themselves but we can win any game. With Charlie’s goals and players like McGeady, Jones and Gooch we can score and create plenty. We’ve still got a great chance of getting in the top two. If we beat Hull, that can change things completely and we are capable of beating any team in this division. All is not lost at all; we were always going to get beat at some point and winning runs don’t go on forever. Charlton was always going to be a tough game but we’ve just got to keep going.
Where did it go wrong on Saturday?
We didn’t t start on the front foot and it’s always difficult to get back into the game. They were the better team in the first half, without a doubt. We got more into the game as it went on, but it was just too late.
How did you rate Saturday ‘s team selection?
A lot of people looked into it but there was obviously a lot of injuries which played into the team selection and there were difficult decisions to be made. Power has been playing a lot so I can understand why he was played in defence. Personally, I would have gone with Denver Hume on the left, if he was 100% fit. That’s the only decision I’d question, though. Everything else I ’d say fair enough. Gooch can do a job on either side. He’s a talented boy and a great athlete.
Lynden Gooch has faced criticism lately. What do you make of that?
Very harsh. He‘s a talented player and can produce moments of magic, such as against Oxford. The kid’s done well for us and people forget that Lynden’s a great servant for the club and he’s done great overall, in my opinion. Sometimes it happens where players just are not playing as good as they have been previously. Considering the longevity of his time at the club, I ’d never knock Lynden Gooch. I wouldn’t give him any stick. He’s been brilliant for the club.
Since LJ came in, our form has really turned around. What’s caused that, in your opinion?
A change of personnel. The return of Aiden McGeady has been the obvious one, he’s been great and is probably too good for this level. Charlie Wyke, although he was scoring goals previously, looks like a different player at times and has took off since Johnson ’s came in, which has been huge. Sometimes it‘s the little things, doing things a different way and a positivity at times. Maybe the lads have taken to Johnson‘s positivity more than Parkinson. It does just happen like that and I’m not saying it will go on forever but that is sometimes how it goes when you get that period when the lads just take to, and respond to, a new manager. But it sometimes doesn’t always last forever.
After not scoring in five games, is it time to drop Charlie Wyke? If so, who for?
The only one, for me, could be Stewart, who I ’ve been impressed with. He looks a bit more mobile than Charlie so he can offer you something different option up-front, especially with his legs. Charlie’s had a brilliant season with the goals he’s scored and no one can knock him but I think it could be time to change things up going into Wigan to give someone else a chance to freshen it up a bit, which could give Charlie a kick up the backside for him to have a good end to the season.
Wigan are sat 21st in the table with one win in their last six. Is this the perfect game for us to bounce back?
They had a great result at the weekend, so you never know in football! After watching their highlights of the last game and it’s clear they ’ve got some talented players, scoring some fantastic goals. No game is easy, it doesn’t matter who or where you’re playing. At this stage of the season though, results are much more important than performances and we obviously need a lot of wins to get into the top two. With the pressure on the boys, we just need to hope we can produce good enough performances but, more importantly, results.
Bailey Wright appears to be regaining fitness. Should he come straight back into the team when he’s ready, in your opinion?
No, I think O’Nien has done brilliant. After you ’ve been out for a while it’s not always easy to come straight back in and be the same player you were before. Him and Sanderson have been outstanding and I ’d want to keep them two together if everyone is all fit and well. My ideal back four would have them two in the middle with Hume and Power either side.
Finally, if there was one piece of advice you could give the lads heading into the last seven games, what would it be?
Be brave. Go for it. We never thought we’d be in the top two for most of the season and we’ve got a great opportunity to go and get results. After one bad result, it’s not the end of the world. Show the right attitude and push for what we all want: promotion.
