Mark Yates happy with performance but admits there is plenty to work on
Mark Yates speaking after today's 1-0 friendly win over Birmingham City:Â"I'm after the hard work that they put in today. I think we could do better but both teams played the right way. We're not kidding ourselves because they had plenty of chances and a lot of those were from our own making so that's where we need to keep working and retaining possession. It was a really good workout.
"I think Harry Hooman has done well again today but they all did. It's about more game time and a continuation of what we're already doing. It has been a good end to a really great week and the lads have really enjoyed being together and have taken onboard what we're trying to do. We need to bring more in and I'm almost apologising to the lads for not doing that because I'm making them work, work and work but I think they all understand what I'm about. It's taking a little longer than I expected. The lads already here have done themselves the world of good.
"Tristan Plummer will play Tuesday. We are really pleased with his contribution to the group so we'll let him play Tuesday and we'll go from there.
"I would struggle to pick an eleven with what I have here and that is a good thing but we do need more bodies and we are all working tirelessly to do that but we have missed out on a couple. I'd like another body in the middle of the park if possible because I think we're a little light there if we're going to play 4-3-3. One or two things might open up for us and it has because we thought we had lost one a few weeks ago and I've now had a phone call to say it may be doable. By being patient I hope it will get us what we want eventually.
"Birmingham are a really good club and their support today was great - I really hope they have a good season. Lee Clark was good to us with Jimmy Spencer last year and it's a relationship we want to keep nurturing.
"We wanted two bodies in this week but for one reason or the other, it hasn't happened. It's not back to the drawing board but we just move on.
"We want to get something through our youth department and I don't mean for the sake of it. We think Joe Hanks is a good player and we identified him towards the end of last season. His size, his mobility and his comfort on the ball is something we'd like to step up. He's played 45 minutes for the youth team today as well but it was a good taste for him in front of a few thousand fans. I think he got a decent reception because we all realise we haven't had much come through the youth system recently and his mates were cheering him on. We want to bring those youngsters through but they need to be good enough."