We take a look at what the managers have said after the latest twists and turns in the League One play-off race.
Bradford City
Graham Alexander was pleased as Bradford kept their destiny in their own hands with a point against Plymouth on Tuesday night.
The Bantams are fourth in the table and a point behind Bolton ahead of Saturday’s showdown at Valley Parade.
“It’s still in our hands. It’s still there for us to win the points that we need,” said Alexander. “It’s just handling the pressure of that and not looking over your shoulder too much. Sometimes chasing gives you that.
“I said to the players yesterday that we’re the team outside the top two who’ve won the most games in this division. We’re a good team.”
He added: “I thought the players were superb (against Plymouth) and the draw suits us more than it does them. I think it’s a good point.”
Stockport County
Dave Challinor is still confident that his Stockport side can secure a play-off spot despite a shock defeat against Mansfield Town at Edgeley Park. The Hatters are in fifth place but have a game in hand.
“I’m confident, and no-one can have any complaints around us knowing what we need to do, regardless of what happens elsewhere,” he said.
“On the whole, I don’t think we deserved to lose the game, but if you judge it on our quality in the final third, then maybe you can say we did,” Challinor added.
“That’s because we got in so many good positions and our decision-making and quality in the final third were miles off it.
“I am really disappointed with the goal and people have questions to ask about how we went about defending that. That ultimately cost us the game.”
Stevenage
Alex Revell insists that his Stevenage squad must keep pushing after an important win at Barnsley on Tuesday night, which kept them sixth in the table despite pressure from the chasing pack.
“We’ve got to make sure we stick with them and keep pushing them because we’re in an unbelievable position and we’ve got two huge games left,” he said. “We’ve got to stick together because it matters to us, and this group is a really special group.”
Revell added: “(The nerves are) understandable. Everybody around the stadium is desperate for us to win games and when you see chances and opportunities that we don’t take, that nervousness grows.
“Players don’t mean to miss them but we have to keep doing it, we have to keep creating and keep working like we are because this team are giving absolutely everything. I couldn’t ask for a better team!”
Luton Town
Jack Wilshere was happy as his Luton side kept themselves in the mix with a 2-0 victory at Rotherham United. The Hatters are in seventh place and three points behind Stevenage with a couple of games to go.
“To produce a performance like that after a big week last week, to go again this week and in the context of where we are and what we need,” said Wilshere.
“Big players come up with big goals and (Kasey Palmer) certainly is that. I think we could have got more than two goals.
“The context was that we had to come here and win so I am really satisfied and happy with that. Scoring early helped, we had spoken about that and the players executed it.”
Plymouth Argyle
Tom Cleverley admitted that failing to win at Bradford was a blow to their play-off hopes, but he won’t throw in the towel just yet. The Pilgrims now need to make up a four-point gap in the final two games.
“The picture looks a little bit worse than it did at the start of today,” said Cleverley. “I wouldn’t say we need snookers but we’re not far off. We still need to focus on doing our job.
“As someone who was 10 points clear in a league title race in April and then lost it in May on goal difference (at Manchester United)… we’ve got Mike Stowell who won the league with Leicester and now they’re in League One. There are more weird and wonderful things that happen in football than us making these play-offs.”
He added: “I thought we did really to put (Bradford) under pressure and try to create a moment, but ultimately we couldn’t get the job done.”
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