David Artell was back in front of the media ahead of Saturday’s Sky Bet League Two trip to Notts County, reflecting on last weekend’s defeat, outlining the club’s review process, discussing set-pieces and squad competition, and previewing another significant test at the top end of the table.

Here’s everything he had to say on the key topics…

On responding to last weekend’s defeat:

“We’ve got to be careful, it’s one defeat in 11. We don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

“The players were obviously disappointed last Saturday. We didn’t play particularly well, other than that half an hour where we were much the better team.

“But like the weeks before that, they’ve come in wanting to get better. They’re listening, they’re engaged and this week’s been no different.

“It’s been a good week. We’ve had some players get their legs back underneath them because it’s been a tough schedule for some. I thought a couple looked leggy on Saturday, which is understandable, so overall it’s been positive.”

On how the games are reviewed:

“I always watch every game back the day after. I think it’s important to allow 12 hours or so for emotions to subside.

“We look at the game as a whole; how close it was to what we wanted, what we told them, whether we told them the right things. That’s on us to improve our processes.

“It gets coded against our game model. We’ve got best practice clips and things we know we need to work on, aligned to that rather than just one single game.

“When we show the players clips, it’s not ‘you must do X, Y and Z’. It’s more about giving guidance – could you have better options here? Could the decision-making be improved? That’s the case whether we’ve won, lost or drawn because we’re never satisfied.”

On set pieces being a recent talking point:

“Not much has changed, to be honest.

“It’s important, but it was important when we hadn’t lost one in 11 as well. We’ve got to be careful we’re not placing too much emphasis on good things or bad things based on one result.

“The processes don’t change. There are things that need highlighting and they have been, but that’s across all areas of the game. We’re constantly trying to get better.”

On increased competition and players returning:

“It certainly gives you options.

“We’re getting close to having a fully fit squad in certain areas, which we haven’t had all season. That allows you to go horses for courses – this player for this game, that player for that game.

“There’s competition for places all over. We’ve got to make sure everyone’s fresh, everyone understands their role, and then we pick the lads who are in form and can expose the opposition’s weaknesses.

“That’s the challenge for all of us, myself included, to win games of football.”

On the challenge of Notts County:

“I think the next game is the one we relish. We’ve been on a long unbeaten run and we’ve got to get back on another one. It’s as simple as that.

“Whether that’s Notts County or anyone else, it doesn’t matter. Let’s get going again and get back on a run because that’s what’s required.

“We know they’re a decent team. It was a really good game at our place, two good teams, and it’s still two good teams now.

“I think it’ll be a proper game of football, a good advert for League Two, and we’ve got to make sure we come out on the right side this time.”

On belief heading into a run of big fixtures:

“One defeat in 11 answers the question about belief. There’s no more or less belief than there was last week or the week before.

“This group believes, and quite rightly so. I believe as well that we’re good enough to be much closer to the top of the table than we are now.

“We’ve just got to make sure that happens.”

You can watch David’s full pre-match interview with the club’s media team here:

With the Mariners firmly in the fight for the top 7 spots of Sky Bet League Two, Saturday presents another opportunity to respond and build momentum against one of the division’s strongest sides.

UTM