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What the managers have said ahead of the 25/26 League Two playoff semi final 1st leg

We take a look at what the managers have said ahead of the 25/26 League Two playoff semi final 1st leg taking place this weekend.

League Two play-off schedule

​​​​​​​Play-off semi-final first legs
Grimsby vs Salford – Sunday May 10, kick-off 3pm
Chesterfield vs Notts County – Sunday May 10, 6pm

Play-off semi-final second legs
Salford vs Grimsby – Friday May 15, kick-off 7.15pm
Notts County vs Chesterfield – Friday May 15, kick-off 8pm

Play-off final
Monday May 25, Wembley Stadium

SKY BET ODDS:

Salford City – 9/4
Notts County – 5/2
Chesterfield – 11/4
Grimsby – 3/1

Chesterfield’s Paul Cook said, per the club website: “I am just really pleased with how we finished the season. I always think in the league, every point above 80 is golden. While people will think we have left a lot of points out there, every team will feel the same.”

On Notts County: “I don’t think you can get a better semi-final than the one we have got, the local rivalry between ourselves and them over the last few years. It’s a good rivalry, they’re an excellent team, they’re very well coached, so it’s going to be a really difficult game for us, but we like to think it’ll be the same for them.

“The games will be really tight games in my opinion, but all backed by fervent support, sellout games and obviously the prize of Wembley.

“At this moment in time, you could probably look at both clubs and say, ‘Well done to both clubs for how they’re run.’

“They recruit well, they have a very bright young coach, they’ve got really strong players, attendances are good, the matchday feel when you go over there is brilliant, and we would like to feel we have something very similar. So, credit to both clubs for being in a position to go forward.

“Both clubs will put on a really good game. I don’t think we have a bad game against Notts County. The games are always decided on a margin. I am just looking forward to it and looking forward to next Friday.

“Hopefully, the two sets of fans will keep it respectful like it should be. An intense rivalry, but respectful.”

On Chesterfield’s strong form this season against their play-off rivals: “When you go into these games, people look for edges and marginal gains, but someone could get sent off or a bad penalty decision. It’s football. I just look forward to the game; it’s a great weekend for football.

Notts County’s Martin Paterson told BBC Radio Nottingham: “We’ve had lots of good days… so we’re looking to have three more.

“Don’t overlook the first one, just concentrate on the first game, get what we can control right and stay really calm.

“I’m really confident in my group.”

He spoke to Sky Sports‘ Simeon Gholam on moving on very quickly from disappointment at missing automatic promotion, saying he and his side are fully focused on the playoffs.

He expressed his excitement, especially big games like these, making sure he is busy preparing, and seeing good games of football.

He said the cup competition of the playoffs is a unique challenge, the honesty and humility when looking back on those games, which explains as to why some got this opportunity, some on luck some of refereeing decisions, and the positives being we did finish above them, head to head they’ve won two games against us and use it as fuel.

Grimsby’s David Artell said, per the club website: “They’ve trained properly and at the right intensity.

“We demand high standards and they demand high standards of each other.

“It’s still about learning, still about getting better and understanding what’s required in the next game.

“We’ve had some big games this year already and the lads understand both the magnitude of what’s ahead and what’s required on the pitch.

“You deal with the first game.

“It’s as simple as that.

“If you’re six up, great. If you’re six down, it’s irrelevant.

“There’s no point looking at two games. You look at the next one and go from there.”

“We’ll analyse the first game properly and prepare again,.

“Regardless of the score or performance, the second game will have a different context to it.”

On previously beating Salford in the two games they played earlier this season, and current form:

“That’s not form because they were months ago.

“Form is your last three or four games really.

“You can’t rely on form because it’s in the past.

“People say you’re only as good as your last game. It’s not true. You’re only as good as your next game.

“Of course we’re looking forward to it,” he said.

“It’s a great occasion for the football club, for the town and for the whole community that we represent.

“The last home game was a terrific day; the weather, the fans walking down the road, everything about it.

“We’ve got to try and replicate that atmosphere again.”

Salford’s Karl Robinson told BBC Radio Manchester: “You know what football is like, you don’t always get what you actually deserve.

“When you take things out of your own control and leave it to somebody else, we can accept that. We firmly believe that we have had a very good season.”

After being questioned what he can take from losing to Grimsby twice this season, he added: “Don’t do what we did last time.

“When you’ve played them in the middle of the season, I think the problem you have is that you can be off the back of a difficult game the week before, or you can be not as fresh as them.

“We’re going to this game with a lot of players back fit.”

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