Recovery is ahead of schedule

It was very disappointing to lose by the only goal to Brighton last night, especially since we´d had such a good start by beating Huddersfield at the weekend.

I thought we were really unlucky to lose after creating a hatful of chances, but it was one of those games where the ball wouldn´t go into the back of the net. Brighton took their chance and scored a great goal and that was it.

You have to take heart from the fact that we have gone away and attacked and carved out the opportunities. We deserved something out of the game but we will concentrate on the positives and there are plenty of those.

We showed in our first match when we beat Huddersfield 2-1 that we can make an impression this year. Huddersfield are going to be a team that is there or thereabouts and we turned them over.

We are confident that we have the ability to beat the top teams and I really do believe there is every chance that we could be in the top six at the end of the season. Last year we were let down by our away results but this season I feel sure we can sort that out.

We were obviously disappointed to lose players like Jason Brown and Darren Byfield but when we came back for pre-season and saw the players that the manager has brought in it was very encouraging. Dean McDonald has already shown flashes of real class and Kelvin Jack is a great keeper. The new boys have given us a lot of confidence.

Last year we were just getting to know the league, feeling it out and seeing what was right and what was wrong about our game. With that experience behind us we can now push on. The manager knows the sort of team he needs to put out and we know what is expected from us.

I´ve had an operation on my ankle and I´m actually ahead of schedule in my recuperation. I wasn´t expecting to be back on the bench yet, but I am and that is great for me. Hopefully I can put the work in now and be in a position to reclaim a regular place in the first team.

We travel to Bradford at the weekend and that is going to be a tough outing against a side that is established in this league and knows what they have to do to get the results. But we went there last year and got a result and I´m sure we can the same this season. If we can get that first away win under our belts I reckon we can build on that and get a bit of a run going.