Yeovil Town central defender Paul Huntington spoke to local journalist Chris Spittles in an interview for BBC Somerset after his team had beaten Milton Keynes Dons on January 3rd 2011.
CS: Paul, a fantastic win. What does that mean to the squad?
PH: It's a big lift. The relief in the changing room is massive. It's enjoyable to be part of it, building after Saturday. That's what it's about in this league - consistency. I've said it before when we've gone on a run of a couple of games unbeaten. That's three clean sheets in the last three league games and that's a basis to build upon. If we could have taken our chances, we created the better chances and I don't think they (MK Dons) had many chances really. But we've got to be pleased with that. Paul Wotton has come in, and Max (Ehmer) has come in at the back and made a difference. With the experience Paul Wotton has got, it can only benefit everyone. We're very pleased to get three points against a very good MK Dons side. I thought we were unlucky when we played them away from home. We had a penalty decision given against us that was very unfortunate. But I thought we ground it out very well today, and even though we could have won by two, three or four goals, we saw it through and we made sure that we won the
game.
CS: You scored the winning goal. As a central defender, what pleases you more? A winning goal or a third successive clean sheet.
PH: I think both go well together, if I'm honest! But the clean sheets are great. On Saturday (at Plymouth) it was very enjoyable. It was a shame about the penalty, but those things happen. The keeper has made a good save, but we had other good chances just before half time. After that, in the second half (at Plymouth) we were resilient like today (against MK Dons). That's a basis to build upon, and if we continue to do that - although it's all right saying it, we've got to go out and prove it like we did today. We owe it to ourselves, because we know as a squad that we're more than good enough and we should be higher up the table. But our form hasn't been up to the standard that it should be. But today we've proved a few doubters wrong.
CS: A good cross by Andy Welsh for your goal.
PH: Yes, it was a great ball. I think it was maybe a corner or a wide free kick that got cleared out. The gaffer is always saying that I've scored a couple of goals in my career already from the second phases of free kicks. I think I was being marked by their centre-forward and they tend to switch off and follow the ball. I just ghosted in and flicked it in. It was a great ball, and he put another one in about 10 minutes later for one of the strikers and it was unfortunate (that it didn't go in). But we kept going and we ground out the result and that was the important thing.
CS: It was made harder of course by the sending off (of Jean-Paul Kalala) in the closing stages.
PH: Who was it?
CS: Jean-Paul Kalala was sent off.
PH: I didn't even notice that. Did he get sent off? Were we down to ten men?
CS: You were!
PH: I didn't even notice that! I was so concentrating on the game. I saw the big melee. I saw it and I was running over to it and I heard the big boos for Michael McIndoe, and I knew they were booing McIndoe, but no if I'm honest, I was so fixed on the game that I didn't even notice. How long was to go? Five minutes?
CS: There was seven minutes to go and you guys battled really well.
PH: Yes, I was just concentrating like I've said and I didn't even notice it at the time.
CS: And for the two loanees, John Sullivan and Shaun MacDonald, it's their last games today and they've made a big impression haven't they?
PH: Yes, they've done really well and the last couple of games have made a big difference. There's been a big difference in the mentality of the squad and I think that the break we've had has done us good by the results that we've been getting. Everyone is in the same boat. Everyone here has momentum and it's less up and down now. If we can stay unbeaten, although it's another hard game on Saturday, but if we can keep unbeaten like we did today, and be in a battle and show the supporters that we're up for the fight and we will get out of this relegation fight and it will stand us in good stead.
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Paul Huntington Speaks To The BBC After The 1-0 Win Over MK Dons
