Let's get ourselves back into the top seven

WE dropped out of the top seven for the first time in a while last weekend and it’s important for us that we get back in there as quickly as possible.

We host Crawley Town on Saturday – it’ll be a tough game as they’ve done well lately but we’ll be looking to get the three points.

Crawley play some good stuff – their former manager Harry Kewell wanted them to play good football and their new boss seems to have come in and shored things up even more.

They have Ollie Palmer who’s one of my best mates and a very good player.

He’s a bit of a handful so we will have to be at our best to deal with him.

Ollie and I are part of a strong group of about seven or eight friends and it’s a massive game for us both, in terms of bragging rights!

We had a big following at Stevenage and we wanted to get a result.

The boys were very disappointed with the result because we wanted to lay down markers.

We were completely in charge in the opening 35 minutes and we were exceptional but then we lost our way a bit.

We’ve rolled up our sleeves away from home before in situations like that.

But the decision by the referee to award a penalty was absolutely ridiculous and momentum swings massively, when that goal goes in.

It was a silly decision - I was in line with the ball myself and it was so clear that the ball wasn’t in the box.

If it was a 50-50 decision, it should have been a free-kick rather than a penalty late on.

I thought it was telling that none of the boys went to the referee, because it was that much of a free-kick.

It was a big decision and you’re dealing with people’s livelihoods.

The whole day was a bit of a write-off with that decision and the way the game went but we have to get that out of our system now.

Trophy triumph

IT was a very good result and performance for us against Southend United, in the Checkatrade Trophy.

It was what we needed, after the result at Stevenage last weekend.

The gaffer hadn’t won a cup game before Tuesday night and it was a really good display.

Some of the boys have staked a claim to be in the team and I’m sure the manager will have some tough decisions to make.

Any win brings confidence and I’m sure it’ll be a good atmosphere in training today and tomorrow, leading up to the Crawley game.

It was good to see Azza score his first goal for us against Southend.

He’s had to be patient and wait for his chance in the team and he’s a great lad.

He’s staked a claim to be included and get more game time and the gaffer wants more game time.

I was an unused substitute against Southend – I’m an experienced pro now and I want to be involved in every game but at the same time, I’m realistic and if we can all stay fit, then it help our chances of being successful.

The Checkatrade Trophy is a chance for players to come in and use the matches as game time but it’s a competition we want to do well in and we know that if we win at Cambridge United next month, we’re through to the knockout stages.

Terry's all gold

JOHN Terry has been appointed as Aston Villa’s new assistant manager, alongside boss Dean Smith.

He follows in the footsteps of the likes of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard of that Premier League era, in taking high-profile coaching roles - it makes me feel old!

Terry is the sort of person you want to help them challenge and get out of that league.

You certainly can’t question his leadership skills and I’m sure he’ll do a great job.

It will be interesting seeing him line up against his pal Lampard in the dugout when they play Derby County next month!

Our Dillon's quick on the draw

LIVERPOOL defender Trent Alexander-Arnold took on the world chess champion the other day.

I’ve never heard of anyone playing chess at any of the football clubs I’ve played at and the same could be said for our goalkeeper Dillon Barnes’ little pastime – colouring.

Sometimes when he’s sat on the coach or waiting in his car, he’ll be there with his colouring pens out and the other day, he was drawing Tweetie Pie!

When I first saw him doing it I thought that he was doing it for his young daughter but I don’t think he was.

I think it’s just something to do with his hands, being a goalkeeper.

In my experience, a lot of keepers are quite weird.

I worked with Ashley Bayes at Wimbledon and he was as crazy as they can be.

I used to watch him when he was playing for Grays Athletic when Mark Stimson was manager and when the ball was down the other end of the pitch, I used to watch him do somersaults and hang on the crossbar!

Cake ban

APPARENTLY, Arsenal manager Unai Emery has banned sugary drinks from the club’s training ground.

It doesn’t really surprise me – I’d be shocked if I saw one of our players downing a can of coke!

Saying that, I’ve been at places where you can pretty much eat what you want.

They’ll serve up anything but Colchester are very professional - the fitness coach has even banned us from bringing in cakes for our birthdays!