Some notes from Wilder's presser:
Injuries & Absences:
- Seriki "has had a scan and no major damage, so potentially he will be available for the second leg. He's got a little bit of damage in that shoulder"
- BBD "is OK and we've got to make a decision whether he travels with us, but if he doesn't he will be fine for the second leg"
- Andy asked whether Campbell was OK in terms of full match fitness, given the rest he has had, and Wilder said he was.
- "Amazing boost [to get the lads back from injury and get minutes into some lads, and be able to rest others". "All on the same page, all fighting for a place. It's going to be a 20 man game. To have everybody available gives is great options."
- Re Arblaster, "it's a 9 month injury and for his development and future, we can't rush these things. He's in a really good place. He's coming down Thursday night and will be in the stands. Good to see him smiling and back out on the grass, and it'll be good to get him back training"
Looking ahead to the first leg against Bristol City:
- Does it being over two legs tweak how you approach it? "No, we are going there to win. No negative approach. We believe at our best we can compete with any team in the division. Our away form has been great"
- "We might have to suffer and get pushed back, deal with their threats, [but] we are going there to win"
- "There's no negativity in this group. The players are determined to go and win a playoff campaign"
- "The players and staff are focused. We know what we need to do. Physically and mentally we are in a good place. We have options, and we've got two games to go get the job done"
- "Technically, Bristol are a good team. They cause problems with the shape. They caused us problems with the shape. We weren't at our best [in the game at BDTBL] but it was a fair result."
- "The group are up for the challenge against a talented young side. Well coached, with the backing of a passionate home support"
- We've "done nothing different" in the preparation and approach to the game. "We've kept everything as normal as we can do"
- "There's an excitement in the group, and looking forward to the challenge"
- He talked about discipline, making the point that getting someone sent off after 10 mins is not a good idea. "Emotions are heightened, tensions are heightened, and you have to deal with that"
- "The home team are under pressure to come out and control the game, but we want to control the ball too"
- "Our away record's good, their home record's good. It's gonna be a tight game"
- "We're confident, but we've got to go get the job done"
General:
- On Seriki and his break through year, "there's been a few hasn't there. Femi's break through year, and Sydie picking up his award. Around Christmas time when we were low on numbers so [lots of the youngsters got involved] and it's been good for them. Another really positive [part of the season] from our point of view to integrate young players into the group, and it's been an outstanding acknowledgement of the academy"
- He said the thing he's been most impressed with Sydie about is simply "how he's handled championship football". "There's been dips in form, as you'd expect, but the majority of the time he's been outstanding. Now he needs to show consistency and kick on"
- "Michael [Cooper] has had a great season. Not for the amount of work he's had to do, but he's been clean, concentration, produced big moments."
- He talked about the increased value of some of the young players ("assets") from their performances this season, he also added that "to restore assets, Anel, Vini and restore their value has been big for the club"
- He was asked whether, with the group being together a short time and still building, they'd almost be better staying in the champ for another year to better place themselves for a shot in the prem. He laughed and said "Shut up. When that door opens, you walk through it"
Interviewers: Andy Giddings, Danny Hall, Leon Wobschall (Yorkshire Post), and a junior from the beeb.
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