City are back in Sky Bet League One action on Saturday 31 August as they travel to the Lamex Stadium to face Stevenage (3pm KO).
Read up on what Michael Skubala and centre-back Sean Roughan had to say as well as important match information in our preview pack.
Michael Skubala’s thoughts:
(On Bailey Cadamarteri signing): “I’m really pleased that we’ve got it over the line. He’s a good young player to add to the front-line, and adds to our options that we’ve already got there. It creates good competition for everyone moving forward.
“We’ve got to learn from last season, we’re playing two up top for most of the games so we need options. They work their socks off and it’s difficult for them to go three games a week, so we’ve just got to make sure we’ve got the strength in depth in that area which we’ve got now.
(On Stevenage): “It’s a tough place to go, they’re a tough team. We know what they’ll be like - they’ll be aggressive. It’ll be a lively game but like every match we’ll try and go for three points and play our way.
“We’re going to have to be on it because they’ll want to get some more points on the board. They’re really resilient and will put it on our back line a lot, it’ll be a hard-fought battle. We can’t take games like this lightly, and we’ve got to go there and try and pick up some points on the road.”
Sean Roughan’s take:
(On his pending 100th appearance): “I’m the type of person that wants to play more and more each season, and the last two campaigns have been really good for me. I want to try and improve on that this season as well and push on for the next milestone.
“All the lads that have been here and all the dressing rooms I’ve been in have been very good, especially this one. This one now is up there with the best, so it’s been a good five years for me here.
(On his success from set pieces ): “It’s been good with the set pieces - I always trust myself. It’s been about going forward, helping the team and giving them an extra option. The gaffer lets us have freedom going forward once we are secure at the back.
A look at the opposition:
It’s been a summer of change for Stevenage having lost manager Steve Evans at the back-end of a successful 23/24 campaign.
New man Alex Revell has taken the reins and has managed to maintain the defensive grit that characterised the Boro’s play-off charge last term.
A 1-0 win over Shrewsbury preceded a narrow defeat on the road to Huddersfield Town before they made it four points from their opening three games in a goalless draw at Burton Albion.
City’s last victory at the Lamex Stadium came in 2018 when John Akinde’s penalty separated the two sides in a tight affair.
Match information:
David Rock will be the man in the middle, and he will be assisted by Stuart Butler and Marcus Carmichael. Elliott Swallow will operate as fourth official.
