Abbo on Studley Win

Reflecting on his side’s 5-2 win at Studley, Hinckley AFC manager Carl Abbott said that his side still have further targets to work towards after qualifying for next season’s FA Cup.

Abbott said that the FA Cup placement meant that objective one had been achieved, but he and his team are focussed on winning the Jelson Homes Senior Cup Final against Bardon Hill on Tuesday. He said: ‘We thought we were going to have a week’s worth of business to achieve that but it looks like it’s been done today.

‘There are still plenty of targets for us to work towards in the last week of the season, starting with the Cup Final on Tuesday, and we don’t want to lose this unbeaten run.

‘We want to take that into next season, so we won’t ease up, but I’m really pleased because we said that if we didn’t qualify for the FA Cup – with the Cup Final offering no guarantees, it’s going to be tough because they (Bardon Hill) are a tough side – we could have ended the week saying it’s a poor season’

Abbott said that although the fans are used to seeing his side winning games now, the expectations haven’t affected his team, and also reckons the long season is beginning to catch up with them.

‘The guys are used to seeing us winning games now, and we wouldn’t have it any other way, but the lads are really tired now. It’s been a long, hard season, they’re mentally drained and I’ve felt that myself.

‘It’s been so up and down that it’s been both the most wonderful season I’ve had as a football manager and also some of the worst weeks I’ve had as a manager as well. The guys feel tired with pitches playing like that as well, that was an atrocious surface today; it was really uneven and it made it hard to play.

‘There was a bit of frustration for the supporters at half time, and rightly so because after starting well we went off the boil in the game. I was at pains to make sure they understand that the players are as committed as ever, just as committed as the first game of the season at Southam, but it’s hard.

‘They need a break now and we’ve just got to steer our way to that pre-season break, re-charge our batteries and start again. There’s no shortage of commitment or effort, but it’s tough going now.’

To see the full video interview with Abbo, visit our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvA1DBV6eDU