SIMON GRAYSON today pledged to meet Huddersfield Town’s League I play-off challenge full-on and told supporters: “Enjoy the ride.”
The Galpharm manager is confident his side can kick their recent slump into touch and seal a third successive play-off tilt by beating Scunthorpe at home today.
“We have the ability and the squad to have clinched automatic promotion,” said Grayson, whose side have lost three on the bounce to slip to fifth.
“That was the target at start of season, and it was still plausible when I came here (in mid-February). It hasn’t happened, but we can certainly still go up.
“We’ve gone through the kind of dip most teams do at some stage of a season. We’ve had players out injured and chopped and changed a little to look at different systems.
“At times we have been a little bit open and a bit naive, but we have experienced players like Damien Johnson and Tommy Miller coming back into contention.
“We need to be positive and banish any nerves among supporters. We all want the same thing so let’s stick together and pull in the same direction.
“Let’s enjoy the three remaining league games, then enjoy the play-offs, because we have a great chance of succeeding.”
Alex Smithies will have to play wearing a skull cap if he’s selected against Scunthorpe after having 30 stitches removed from a lacerated ear.
Ian Bennett deputised in the 1-0 defeat at Preston last Saturday and could continue against Alan Knill’s side if Grayson decides against risking Smithies.
“Alex did some one-to-one training with John Vaughan, our goalkeeping coach, on Thursday, then took part in full training yesterday,” said Grayson.
As well as Johnson and Miller, fellow midfielder Oscar Gobern is available for selection while full-back Gary Naysmith is close to a comeback after a knee problem.
