Two Michael Proctor goals were enough to secure a draw from an exciting cross-border derby match with rivals Chester at the Racecourse Ground, after the visitors had twice taken the lead during the first-half.

New Reds boss Brian Little was generally pleased with how things had gone: "All I can say from my point of view is that I have picked a team, sent them out there and told them to work hard.

"I asked them to work at a particular system, but told them at half-time that if the scoreline stayed the same, then I would be changing the system and that I wanted everyone to tune in quickly.

"We have worked hard on the training ground for nine days; we have had more practice matches than we probably needed. There appeared to be a little bit of tiredness in the lads.

"I am aware that generally the sort of work that we are doing is done pre-season but we do have to do it. We have to try and perfect out system. We have also got to be aware of the fact that we will probably be doing more work on the training ground that others probably are at this time of the year.

"I was pleased with the player's commitment, they got tired towards the end which was understandable but ultimately they have worked hard and tried their best to do things properly for the team. It was encouraging, from my point of view I probably expected that, and I'd like to think that there are one or two more things that we can improve on.

"I'll learn a lot of things from people everyday. I seen a lot on the training ground, people have impressed me on the training ground, hence the team selection, and I've just been told outside that there were seven changes from the last team and I honestly didn't know that.

"I knew it was young Wes' (Baynes) first game and I am really pleased for him. Some of the players I had not seen, indeed until Thursday we had seven players away on international duty who might have been in the squad today but I just hadn't had chance to see them.

"Young Neil (Taylor) at left-back, we needed a quick left-back because of the threat of Ritchie Partridge. Irrespective of whether I had seen him or not, I had to play him.

"The team will change from time to time. Players will make points to me on the training ground I hope. All in all, the response was good, we played a system I thought was strong but we went to sleep and gave them a goal which made it difficult for us.

"We got back into the game but then again a minute before half time they score what I thought was a good goal. I had an idea that Liny (Paul Linwood) might score today as we had some tough times at Tranmere together but we got on well.

"Once again, at half-time, we had a good chat and encouraged them to keep going and told them that if we changed the system this is what we are changing it for, we expect this to try and happen. They have tried their best and we have got something out of the game.

The most important thing is to stay focussed, it is a long hard road ahead, we might win a few, we might draw a few, we might lose a few but I have said to them, 'don't be embarrassed to draw a game of football'.

A point is a good point in this business and not losing football matches becomes a habit, so we'll try very hard to build on that but whether we can do that I don't know.

"That is twice that I have had football occasions on my birthday, in 1994 I joined Villa on my 41^st birthday which is quite quirky, but to come here and have a game on my birthday was something different. I have enjoyed it; it is always something that I will always remember. It has been a good day, I have really enjoyed it.

"It is a good point but we have now got three points away from home and if we've still only got one point on the board from them then that is not good enough.

"To be behind twice in a game of football in the modern era it shows that there is something there. We have to try and find that every single game and that is one of the facets of management.

"I am really pleased, not so much with how we played because we just got a scrap but we we've got to work hard and chase around.

"I watch these players on the training ground, they can pass and they can move but the game is different for them because of the pressure and the situation that they are in because they are at the bottom of the table. Sometimes we had to forego the sort of things that Chester could do because of the position they are in.

"If we can win a few games then that will give us confidence, and that gives us another four or five percent on our game.There are many ingredients that make that perfect team performance and we have got quite a few of those to find yet.

"I had spoken to Neil (Roberts) about playing in midfield and he said no problems. Out of the three experienced strikers that we have, he was the one who I felt could do a job for me there. And I thought that he did, I was absolutely delighted with his performance.

"I have just come in and picked a team after seeing them for nine days in training. He has been there every day and that put him ahead of young Robbie Garrett who I only met a day ago.

"My only thoughts now are to analyse the game and on Tuesday start thinking about the next game.

"There were two well taken goals by Michael Proctor and the situation dictated that we needed to score a good goal. It was never going to be a scrappy one and he did really well. We had two other efforts cleared off the line or saved by the keeper.

"I know Brian (Carey) really well and I wanted to help him, I am one hundred percent aware that he wanted me to come so there were loads of things that appealed to me.

"I am happy and I am enjoying it but I am not going to be happy everyday because we will have a few set-backs.

"Generally speaking our attitude has to be spot on over the next five or six months, and that is one of the things that will get us out of trouble."