Manager Says-Clarets 4-0 Plymouth

The 4-0 win aginst the Pilgrims last night, our first in 19 matches brought ecstacy for the fans and everybody concerned with the Club.

This was clearly the case for our manager,Steve Cotterill who had been under the cosh for sometime from a disgruntled section of the Clarets fanbase.

He had this to say about our stunning victory in the post-match press conference:

'We have all had a big cross to bear and with the run we've been on it really couldn't have been better.

'I am delighted for the players, for the chairman and the directors who have stood beside me and for the supporters who have stood by me because it has been tough.

'Early morning, late nights, waking up in the middle of the night to write things down and trying them the next day - I think it is probably the toughest time I have had to face in my managerial career.

'There will still be a percentage of supporters I still need to convince, but those who have stood by me have been absolutely first class and while I will get satisfaction out of this, it is probably for everybody else at this fantastic club.'

Steve had this to say about his players:

'The lads played angry tonight. I think for the first time, there was a little bit of stick which they got at the weekend and they read those things.

'I suppose the key now is to keep angry!

'They have wanted that result for a long time and, had the goals gone in along the way, we could have ended up with that scoreline earlier.

'But everyone will just remember the 18-game run. They won't remember the performances in some of those games.

'The difference is that our chances went in tonight and there were lots of people who could vie for man of the match, but for me Andy Gray was absolutely immaculate and I am just sorry he didn't get his goal.

'He was at the heart of everything good about us tonight. Everyone else played well, but Andy - 11 out of 10!'

He also had a few things to say about the recent press coverage of the Clarets' predicament and the fear of relegation:

'It's been difficult for you guys because the public perception of what we are involved in these days is that if you don't win, you get on at your team or sack the manager.

'It is probably only recently that the press have had to write what has been going on, because otherwise they look stupid.

'What happens is the manager is the one who always looks the stupid one because what he has to bear in mind is he has to talk to the supporters, the players and the chairman and directors.

'Sometimes you have to say things you don't always mean and people look at you as if you have grown two heads because you can't always tell the whole truth.

'You have to sometimes skirt around things.

'It would be easy to say, over the last 18 games, that it's down to the players.

'It's not - it's down to all of us and I haven't been one to pass the buck on any occasion.

'I am quite proud I have managed to do that because this has been tough, make no bones about it.

'Football is my life and over the past few months there hasn't been too much of it, so I am going to enjoy tonight and tomorrow!'

Well said Steve (ENJOY!!) and very well done to the lads and lets applaud the way they have finally responded and got the result they deserve

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