MONEY

TALK

Good afternoon and welcome back to all supporters to Kenilworth Road for today's game with Hayes and Yeading United.

I would like also like to extend a warm welcome to our visitors from Middlesex, Garry Haylock, his management team, the players, directors, officials and supporters who have made the trip around the M25 today.

Bank Holiday printing deadlines means I cannot look back on Saturday's trip to Tamworth but having watched them and played Gary Mills' side towards the tail end of last season we know we will be in for a tough 90 minutes.

Our last game here at Kenilworth Road saw our 100 per cent start to the season ended by Newport but I don't think I could have asked us to play much better that night.

On another day we could have come off the pitch as winners and I said to the players that I was proud of their efforts because I thought they were excellent.

Newport worked their socks off for Dean Holdsworth and I said to the media afterwards that they needed to be because if they hadn't been we could have won the game comfortably.

A lot was made of Matthew Barnes-Homer's penalty miss but that's football. Sometimes they go in and sometimes they don't. Matthew knows he should have scored but he's been on fire for us.

We expected Newport to come out and play and so it proved and no doubt they will be very pleased with their performance.We lost a goal but we came back within four minutes, playing some lovely football in the first half with some creative and incisive play, so much so we could have been 4-1 up at half-time.

Newport got more men behind the ball as the game wore on and we had to be patient but we still created enough chances to win the game but sadly, we couldn't. Who knows, it could become an invaluable point come the end of the season.

It was refreshing that Dean's side came out and gave us a game, especially in the first half. All too often teams come to Kenilworth Road set out to frustrate us and that will have to be something we deal with as and when then situation arises.

This afternoon Garry brings his side to Bedfordshire looking to build-on a successful season last term and we are under no illusions of the challenge that awaits.

He has strengthened his squad over the summer and have impressed so far this season as their 2-1 win at Grimsby last week testifies.

Last season we enjoyed two victories and scored 11 goals against today's opposition and rest assured it won't be as easy this time around.

Garry will be telling his players to go out and prove a point - especially those who were on duty when they were last at Kenilworth Road.

Their results so far this season have been very up and down but while we are well aware of the dangers they pose we are concentrating on what we do well.

The season is still in its early stages so it is important not to get too carried away. We are all pleased the way in which it's gone so far and long may it continue.

Leagues are not won or lost at this stage and it's vital that you continue to back us even when the going gets tough.

Your support so far has been first class - home and away. Remember we need you as much as we can throughout this long, challenging season.

Please keep it up.

Enjoy the game.

Richard