David Artell says the Mariners must quickly refocus and look ahead to Saturday’s trip to Gillingham, with “everything still to play for” in the race for the play-offs.

After a narrow defeat at Chesterfield in midweek, the Head Coach is clear that his side must respond in the right way as the season enters its decisive stage.

Here’s everything Artell had to say ahead of the weekend…

On reflecting after Chesterfield

Artell reiterated his belief that his side did enough to take something from the game, despite ultimately falling short.

“I think, like I said after the game, our defensive shape cost us the game,” he said.

“Second half we were much better and we were a penalty kick away from getting a point at a really close rival.

“But it wasn’t to be. That’s football.

“We lick our wounds, dust ourselves down and go again Saturday.”

On supporting Reece Staunton

The Head Coach confirmed the squad have rallied around Reece Staunton following his late penalty miss, praising both his character and mentality.

“I pick them all up,” Artell explained.

“There’s a bit of gallows humour around the place, that’s football.

“I gave him a hug on the pitch straight after the game – he’s fine.

“He’s shown unbelievable character to step up and take it, and another day it goes in. It’s as simple as that.”

On the squad’s reaction

Despite the disappointment, Artell says the mood in the camp remains positive and focused.

“Some defeats sting, and that one did,” he admitted.

“But we’ve still got a great chance. It’s not season-defining in any way.

“The lads are in decent spirits, probably better than I thought they’d be.

“It’s our job to pick them up, but they pick themselves up as well.”

On the importance of emotional analysis

Artell highlighted the importance of understanding how players feel during games, not just the tactical side.

“The first question in every review is: how did you feel in the game?” he said.

“There’s no right or wrong answer – it’s about understanding their mindset.

“Were you comfortable? Were you not?

“That quickly leads into the tactical side and helps us understand what’s happening on the pitch.

“It allows for really open, honest conversations.”

On Jaze Kabia’s form

Artell reserved praise for forward Jaze Kabia after his 19th goal of the season in midweek.

“He’s doing great,” he said.

“He’s a good goalscorer, it’s as simple as that.

“He works his socks off, and hopefully he’ll get a few more before the end of the season.”

On County Cup involvement

Several players featured in the County Cup this week, something Artell felt was important for maintaining sharpness.

“That’s why we played them,” he explained.

“We don’t know whether we’ve got two or three weeks left or five or six.

“It was important they got minutes – whether that’s 45, 60, 75 or 90.

“They need to understand pitch geography again and stay match-ready.”

On Harvey Rodgers

Artell confirmed there are no concerns over Harvey Rodgers after he was substituted on Tuesday night.

“He’s fine,” he said.

On Gillingham

The Head Coach expects a tough test against a side he believes are better than their league position suggests.

“A team that shouldn’t be where they are,” he said.

“All the data suggests they should be higher in the league.

“You know what you get from a Gareth Ainsworth team; they’re well coached, organised and physical.

“They’ve got threats from set pieces, they can get the ball forward, and they’ve got quality players as well.

“We know we’ve got a game on our hands.”

On the lack of ‘surprises’ in modern football

While analysis has evolved, Artell says there are still unknowns heading into each game.

“We don’t know what shape they’ll play,” he said.

“They’ve played three at the back and four at the back.

“You won’t know until the team sheet comes in.

“So you’ve still got to be tactically ready for different scenarios.”

On the play-off push

With four games remaining, Artell insists nothing has changed in the bigger picture.

“There’ll be loads of twists and turns,” he said.

“We’ve just got to look after ourselves.

“One defeat doesn’t change anything.

“If we win games of football, we’ve got every chance of extending our season.”

With the run-in heating up, the Mariners now turn their full attention to Saturday’s trip to Gillingham, determined to respond and keep their play-off hopes firmly alive.

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

UTM