Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Harrogate saw the return of attacking full-back Cameron Green to the starting line-up for the first time this season.
After joining the club back in April, Green had made six appearances under previous manager Dean Keates, and he revealed he’s found it difficult watching on the sidelines.
“It just felt nice to be back” said Green. “It’s tough watching from the side because you always want to help the team and it was great to play in front of these fans.
“It’s tough because as a footballer you want to play every game and I think that’s where my passion and desire can sometimes be my undoing.
“I want to be playing and it’s tough looking at all the fans and sitting there on a Saturday at 3pm watching because I want it to be me out there.
“I just have to keep my head down and bide my time because sometimes it really does hurt, I’m not going to lie but I have to keep my focus and give my all whenever I get the opportunity like today.
Manager Phil Parkinson reverted to a back five for the tie against Harrogate to nullify the host’s wide threat, which they did so for seventy minutes of the clash before Simon Power and Danilo Orsi turned the tie on its head.
Speaking on his own and the team’s performance, Green added he felt they were ‘hard done by’ come full-time.
“It just felt nice to be back. It’s tough watching from the side because you always want to help the team and it was great to play in front of these fans.
“I played okay but I know I can play better, and my threats are going forward which I didn’t get to do as much.
“I thought we were hard done by, we felt very comfortable in our defensive shape, and I don’t think they hurt us too much.
“I showed I can defend okay, and I am here to play, and I’ll give my all for the fans and this club every time I play.
Harrogate managed to turn the tie around in a relentless six-minute spell at the Envirovent Stadium and the former Reading academy man believes that a lack of concentration was the deciding factor.
“That’s football at times and concentration is vital at any level you play, and lapse of concentration can cost you goals and that’s something we can all improve on.
“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, and we have to go again on Tuesday against Aldershot because it’s a big game and an important week for us.”
This coming week sees us twice on the road on Tuesday night against Aldershot and Saturday at Kings Lynn Town.
Images: Gemma Thomas