Green Room Diaries: Back to hard work and being hard to break down (From Gazette Series)

Forest Green boss Dave Hockaday gives his insight into the recent activities at Forest Green

9:12am Thursday 15th October 2009 in Sport

THE working week at Forest Green Rovers starts on a Tuesday, and last week we turned up with 11 injuries or illnesses - not the best way to begin!

After only conceding five goals in our last seven games I feel it is time to concentrate more on our attacking game, our combination play and switching of play and our crossing and finishing.

This goes particularly well as all players like to work on these aspects.

On Wednesday we also train at the New Lawn and have a brilliant "spinning" session on the bikes along with an upper body weights circuit in the gym.

Everyone is looking fitter and stronger and we are focusing on taking the game to AFC Wimbledon on Saturday.

Well, the best laid schemes of mice and men and all that. In possession and going forward I feel we are better than we have been by a distance.

But, it’s as if we have forgotten all of the basic defensive duties that we have been so good at over the last five weeks.

Twice we come from behind and indeed miss some great chances to take the lead with some super attacking football, but as a team we are all at sea, and although the final scoreline is harsh we cannot expect to come out with anything if we give so many poor goals away.

I take full responsibility as I have asked my players to try to run before they can walk.

Back to hard work, being hard to break down and staying compact. I totally believe in my squad and it is up to me to select the correct time to become more expansive in our play.

A clean sheet away at Histon on Saturday is the order of the day.