Ben Tozer made his 17th appearance of the season for the Exiles during the 1-1 draw at Accrington Stanley.
County maintained their unbeaten record at Accrington with the point as Frank Nouble continued his recent good run after scoring his seventh goal of the campaign.
Tozer has himself been in fine form for the Exiles of late, starting every league game since making his long-awaited return from injury against Morecambe in September.
He is still looking to get off the mark in the goal-scoring department this season, however, after only getting the one goal last season, that coming against Tuesday’s visitors Barnet.
Post-match, Tozer spoke exclusively to iFollow Exiles about the Accrington game, the training ground routine that led to Nouble's goal and how he wants the side to respond against Barnet on Tuesday night.
On the Accrington game…
“We did what we had to do away from home really until the last few minutes again.
“Obviously, we got the goal straight after half-time which was a bit earlier than expected if I’m honest.
“But then we’re kind of holding on and looking for counter-attacks, and I thought we did a brilliant defensive performance until the end really.
“It’s gut-wrenching really and a bit like last week. I just feel like we’ve now lost four points over the last two games so it’s quite hard to explain how I’m feeling.”
On his performance individually…
“Here and there you know – a few mistakes, a few good things.
“It’s always difficult second-half, but at the same time it is quite enjoyable personally to help out the defence and do what I do.
“But to concede the goal is frustrating, if we’d have kept the clean sheet then I would have felt like I’d have really contributed to that.
“It’s just the way it happens really, a bit like last week, you could say Port Vale are doing well so it’s not the end of the world but to concede two late goals is very unlike us to do that. It hurts.
“It’s a bit of a blow, you kind of take it personally because you always evaluate your own performance before anyone else’s so it’s kind of hard for me to answer that really.”
On Frank Nouble’s goal…
“It is nice when they come off.
“Obviously, it would have been a lot nicer if it had come off and we’d have won the game and we’d have been thinking it was brilliant.
“But you know, it’s come off, we’ve got a point and we move on.”
On the recent run of form of one win in seven matches…
“To be honest, I didn’t really know that it was one win in seven.
“I know we haven’t won in five league games now, but I don’t think it tells a good story really if I’m honest. If we hang on for five or six more minutes here, then it’s an unbelievable away performance.
“If we hang on for five or six minutes last weekend, then it’s a good home win so I don’t think it’s anything to worry about at the moment.
“If we’re coming here and losing three or four nil then it’s different I think, for example Cambridge lost 7-0 today, so I think we just need to look at the positives and move on really.”
On missing fellow midfielders Matty Dolan and Joss Labadie…
“Missing anyone who’s been starting will always ruin the cohesion that you build up week in, week out and it’s always difficult.
“It’s not too difficult because we train together every day, but you know, they’ll be back fit for the next couple of games and fighting for places which is what we need because competition for places is healthy.”
On trying to get back to winning ways…
“I think before these last two games, if we score first then we win the game probably 90% of the time.
“So, we need to stop little things like that creeping in asap really and start getting into the habit that if we score then we win the game.
“Get that confidence back in and then you know that you’re going to win a game when you go ahead.
“That’s what we need to get back to and hopefully we can.”
On facing Barnet on Tuesday…
“They’ve got a new manager and it’s always difficult playing any team who have got a new manager. We’ve just got to be honest, work hard for each-other, be resilient and hopefully the result will come.
“I don’t think positions in the table ever matter in this league. Anyone could literally beat anyone. I think Chesterfield have beaten Exeter City today which only goes to show anything can happen really.
“You’ve got to approach every game the same way, give 110% no matter what, you’re going to have to run at the opposition no matter what and then we’ll see what happens at the end of the game.
“I guess it’s a good thing that we’re playing so soon after today because it feels like a loss.
“Last weekend we conceded at home to draw the game, it felt like a very long week and you kind of always want to rectify it, make it right and it is good that we can get going on Tuesday and Saturday again after.
“If we pick up six points, then this one doesn’t look too bad then.”