Pitman: Win Must Be Turned Into Run
Friday, 6th Nov 2015 06:00

Town striker Brett Pitman agrees the midweek breakthrough win against Bolton was hugely significant but believes it must be followed up with further successes to be truly meaningful.

Pitman scored the second goal in his side’s 2-0 victory on Tuesday to end a winless run of seven games and lift Mick McCarthy’s men to within four points of the play-off place they occupied at the end of last season.

It was his fourth goal of the season and the experienced striker said: “It was a big win and we needed it.

“It had been coming for a few games because we probably deserved to win our previous two or at least take four points from them. It was certainly nice to get the three points against Bolton.

“But we need to back up the win over Bolton with another good result at Rotherham on Saturday.

“In this league you need to put a string of results together, not just one here and there. We want to get a run going, not win one and then lose one because that doesn’t really get you anywhere.”

Pitman might have been celebrating the first hat-trick of his Town career had two net-bound efforts in either half not been cleared off the line by Jose Manuel Casado and Jay Spearing respectively.

But he did succeed with a memorable 70th minute strike, crashing his shot on the run high into the net, and he added: “It was a mixture of joy and relief because it put us 2-0 in front with 20 minutes to go, rather than having an edgy 1-0 lead.

“I definitely thought I had scored in the first half and I suppose I’m going to say that. But it was Murph who crossed it and he thought the same even though he was behind me.

“We both thought it was over the line but it didn’t get given, frustratingly, and it was just nice to win the game.”

Pitman was asked if the atmosphere in the Town camp had been more upbeat since the much-needed win over Bolton and he responded: “Maybe slightly but the mood wasn’t bad before that.

“We’ve got a positive group who stick together and I think that comes from the management and works its way down. We didn’t really get too down when we weren’t winning.

“Everyone was disappointed, of course, but we were all in it together and carried on fighting.”

Meanwhile, Pitman praised Town team-mate and fellow marksman, 18-year-old Ainsley Maitland-Niles, for his performances since joining on a season-long loan from Arsenal.

He said: “I’ve been impressed, probably like everybody that has watched us. He’s a great character, first of all, because he’s come here and fitted in easily.

“Ability-wise he’s just what you would expect coming from Arsenal. He’s comfortable on the ball, he can run at players and it was nice for him to get his first senior goal on Tuesday. We were all pleased for him.

“Do I think he can go right to the top as a player? I would guess so, although it’s not really for me to say. But from what I’ve seen I don’t see why not.”

Photo: Action Images

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