"Richie Baker limped off with a calf problem on Tuesday night and I think it will be touch and go whether he will be available for Saturday's game.  These injuries are frustrating because we can't do anything about it.  Every time I turn round and look at the bench, I can't change it.  It's difficult at the moment but the good thing is that we are winning games, playing well and getting away with it.  Those that are playing and performing have been fantastic."

"Mike Jones is playing this free role purely because of the number of injuries that we have.  I said after the game on Tuesday that we couldn't risk two strikers on the pitch.  I had to keep one with Saturday in mind, so we looked at the shape.  When Ryan Lowe came off at Crewe, we gave Jonah the free role then and he is kind of comfortable in that role."

"I've got to go with two strikers on Saturday.  That's how I want to play.  Ryan Lowe is our top goal scorer so I don't think you leave him out.  The idea was because it was the Johnstones Paint Trophy and not a league game, even though we want to win every game, sometimes you just have to take a logical decision.  Somebody told me it was a brave decision.  There's nothing brave about it, it was logical.  The fact is that I haven't got any players.  I have to wrap those that I have got in cotton wool and save them for what I perceive as most important and that the league games."

"We didn't do any shape work before the Tranmere game.  Sometimes you can go a bit deep about it and ask for this and ask for that.  I told them that I wanted one thing, for Tom Elliott to stay at the top of the pitch, but the other three (Worrall, Jones & Racchi), you go where you like.  Out of possession I want such a thing, but I will allow you the freedom to go and play where you like.  I thought that we were excellent in the second half.  When you have young players, you have to use them and we looked strong right to the end."

"Defenders do not like playing against Tom Elliott, but I think there is so much more inside him.  We forget that he's only 18, its ridiculous and you look at him, his size, pace, power and his physique and we want more.  It will take time though; he comes with a confidence of playing.  The more he plays the better he will get.  I said when he signed that I think there is a really good player in there.  The only problem with him is that at 6 foot 4, you have to stand six foot four all the time, no matter what."

"On Tuesday we came in at half time 1-0 down and I heard people having a go at the players.  It's frustrating because I thought they did pretty well, especially when you consider the age of the team, but you can hear some people having a go at some of the players.  Some of the comments are ridiculous.  Why should we beat Tranmere?  We have no divine right to beat anybody.  We haven't got the biggest budget in the league, we haven't got the most players, we haven't got the divine right to beat anybody - yet all of a sudden people assume that because we finished fourth last year that we should beat everybody.  It's just not like that and it is frustrating at time's but I understand.  That's just how it is.  Expectation levels go through the roof.   I know what's going on and I see the size of the squad and how they work."

"There is a good chance that the three on the bench on Tuesday, will be back in the side on Saturday.  It gave me the opportunity to rest them and protect them.  Fortunately it worked and we have gone through to the next round.  We are working with 14 players, I'm not rotating them - I'm protecting them.  There is no competition for places, this is what's left, and that's it.  After that it's Brassy, though thankfully we are not that desperate yet."

"As for Saturday, it doesn't matter who it is.  We played West Brom in the cup.  We didn't compete in the first half but we did in the second.  It doesn't matter who the opposition is, the first thing we put up in the dressing room is that we have to compete.  Once we do that, then we have some ability.  It's the oldest cliché ever - you have to earn the right, you can't just go out and be great footballers.  It's five unbeaten now and we are playing some good football.  I was delighted, more so than I have been for a long time because this is how I want to play and pass the ball.  The players are buying in to what we are trying to do."

Alan Knill was talking to 'Shakers Player', the above text represents around seven minutes of the full 16 minute video interview.  Click here to subscribe for our FREE 14 day trial or here for current subscribers to login.