Defender targets pre-season victories

SCOTT Laird believes Boro must continue to win their pre-season games in a bid to regain the winning mentality that served them so well last season.

Graham Westley’s side have won two from two so far and Laird says it needs to continue.

“People say pre-season is about 90 minutes in your body but we see it as we want to win every game,” Laird told The Comet.

“We want that winning mentality back that we had last season and we’ve done that with the first two games.”

Boro continue their pre-season programme at Chelmsford City tonight (Friday) and Laird says pre-season is all about gearing up for Macclesfield Town on August 7.

“Everyone can’t wait now, that’s what we’re all building up to (the Macclesfield game),” he said.

“Every game we play in pre-season, even if it’s against the League teams we’ve got to win because that’s how we get that winning mentality back.”

The 22-year-old, whose involvement in the behind-closed-doors game with Yeovil Town was curtailed due to a cut eye, is glad to have the worst of the pre-season work behind him.

“The first two weeks for every footballer is the hardest,” he said, “but we’ve got through that, the gaffer’s put us through our paces, we’re a fit team and a hard working team and that’s what we need to do.”

The former Plymouth Argyle man continued his record from the penalty spot against Histon and says his team mates will have to fight hard to take the penalty duties away from him.

“They’ll have to wrestle hard to get them off me,” Laird stated.

“I think Boylan’s the other penalty taker but while he’s not playing I’m definitely on them!”