The gaffer ahead of the weekend...
Graham Westley says the arrivals of Bruno Andrade and Danny Johnson will help plug the gaps left by Adam Marriott and Tom Pett after their recent injuries.
Last Saturday’s performance against Oxford lacked much of the attacking panache seen in recent weeks and he hopes that against Mansfield we’ll see a big improvement.
“Bruno will give us thrust. We saw him here when he was on loan last year. He’s prepared to take the game forward, he’s got that bit of pace about him, and he’s a good lad to work with. Probably wasn’t quite ready for League One but he’s done a stint in League Two at Wycombe and I think he showed when we played Portsmouth in the cup and he made the first goal that day what his pace can do at League 2 level, so I’m looking forward to having him back and filling in for Tom whilst he’s out.
“Danny’s got an eye for goal; he’s got a similar background to Marriott. I spoke to Russell about him much earlier on in the season and he offered me him before he went out to Tranmere. I kept an eye on him whilst he was at Tranmere, I saw him play and he was similar to Adam; graduate form non-league football, he’s busy, bright and got an eye for goal. I think those two will come in and give us what Adam and Tom have given us until now.”
In other injury news, Chris Whelpdale and Dean Parrett are both 50/50 going into the game.
“We’re hopeful for Whelps for the weekend. He’s got an ongoing problem but it looks as though we’ll be able to manage him back into action at the weekend so if we can, that’ll be great as missing Whelps, missing Adam, missing Tom and losing Deano took a lot away from us last weekend.
“We tried to adjust but we’re having to adjust to a completely different game and it’s very difficult for a side that’s got into a rhythm and done really well over six or seven games, it’s very difficult for you to then suddenly start playing a different game.
“Last weekend, let’s face facts, we were shocking. The changes were a big part of that - that’s no negative reflection on anyone who played it’s just that the side got into a rhythm and a way of playing and we had to go out of that rhythm to try and adjust to the new players and we didn’t do very well.
“We’ve brought in lads who will give us the sort of threats and creativity that we were showing before the injuries. If we get Whelps and Deano back we’ll have those assets restored.”
Speaking about facing Mansfield who are currently in the relegation zone, GW knows nothing other than full focus and desire will deliver the points.
"Every game needs to be won on its merits, every team will try and produce a different level of performance, of course it will. We know we can beat them, we know we can beat any team in this league. We're long enough in the tooth to know that it's all about what you do on the day.
"We go into it with confidence, of course we do but every side will try and pull a performance together on the day and you've got to make sure that you're ready for it and that you've got enough desire to win the points that are on offer."
To watch the full interviews with GW, Andrade and Johnson sign into Boro Player.