Kurt under pressure to keep a first-team place
Kurt Robinson knows a regular role in the Rushden & Diamonds defence can't be taken for granted this season.
The left-back played in nearly every game last term on their way to the Blue Square Bet Premier play-offs.
Click the green button to listen to an interview with Kurt Robinson.
But he was left out of the line-up for the semi-final second leg at Oxford United and, following illness and injury during the pre-season programme, Robinson missed the start of the new campaign when Michael Corcoran switched from the right flank.
Summer signing Jamie Day has regained fitness to put extra pressure on Robinson's first-team place.
The former Ipswich Town trainee said: "To be completely honest it was horrible and I hated every minute of being on the bench for the first couple of games.
"I'm back in the team now and I've got to work my hardest to keep Jamie out.
"He's a lovely lad off the pitch and I know he can fill in at any time if I'm not playing well.
"The gaffer (Justin Edinburgh) might think Jamie can do a better job so I must keep working hard.
"I missed a couple of pre-season games through illness and on the first day back in training I rolled over my ankle after a tackle from Max Porter.
"The first two weeks of the season were hard to take with two defeats and a draw.
"But all the boys believed in each other and hopefully we can continue doing our jobs well at York City tomorrow.
"We want to get as many points on the board as early as we can.
"It's finally starting to come together because we had a few new boys come in here."
The three-match winning run – taking Diamonds from the bottom up to sixth place – has featured two clean sheets which is another bonus for Robinson and the rest of the back four.
He added: "We didn't concede any goals but AFC Wimbledon and Kettering Town are both good sides.
"We defended well as a team and Kettering didn't really have many chances on Monday.
"It's a local derby so everyone wants to win as much as the fans do.
"In the changing-room there was a special feeling before the game which showed how much we wanted to beat them.
"As soon as it kicked off there were tackles flying about and everyone worked really hard out there.
"In some of those games there can be nasty challenges but you have to do the horrible bits which the fans don't see.
"We've all been working hard in training over the last couple of weeks and that has shown in the matches."
Tomorrow's trip to Bootham Crescent will see the Diamonds defence up against ex-Nene Park striker Michael Rankine who will partner Michael Gash following Richard Brodie's big-money move to Crawley Town.
Robinson added: "Rankine is undoubtedly a good player but everyone underestimates him.
"He's a big, strong boy who holds the ball up well. Gash is also massive compared to myself.
"I'm sure they weren't a one-man band with Brodie up front.
"It took us three games to play at our best and get back on track.
"Maybe it's taking York a little longer but I don't think they have lost many players since the play-off final and you would expect them to do well again."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Kettering
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: West
