BLUES DUO: WE CAN DO IT
Posted on: Mon 12 May 2008
By Matt Cecil
Close friends Russell Martin and Matt Bloomfield told wwfc.com this week that they're confident that Wanderers can make it all the way to League One through the play-offs and make up for the heartbreak of losing out to Cheltenham two years ago.
The pair are two of the longest serving players at Adams Park and were part of the team that lost 2-1 on aggregate at Whaddon Road, but they now believe that the current squad is strong enough to get past Stockport and their Wembley opponents and return to League One after a four year absence:
World: Watch the interview with Matt Bloomfield
World: Hear the thoughts of Russell Martin
"We're not feeling any pressure," said right-back Russell. "We know what we're capable of and on our day we can beat anyone in this league. Losing at Cheltenham was the worst feeling I've ever had in football and I don't want to feel like that again so hopefully we can put it right this time around."
Meanwhile midfielder Bloomfield will be forced to watch Sunday's first leg match from the stand after sustaining a serious knee injury in March which ruled him out for the rest of the season, but he'll be cheering his team-mates on all the way:
"There's a belief in the camp that we can win and the lads know what they need to do," he said. "It was devastating losing in the play-offs last time but I'm convinced we'll be successful this season because we've got the right players and the team is really positive. I'll be rooting for them from my seat!"
'Blooms' has returned to the training ground this week to catch up with friends and work closely with sports consultant Dave Jones after undergoing surgery two weeks ago - an event which was preceded by a mischievous prank by some of his team-mates.
Pals such as Frank Fielding and John Sutton invited Blooms to see a film at High Wycombe's Cineworld complex, but little did the midfielder know that he was about to watch 'Alive', which is a movie about a man who wakes up halfway through an operation.
"The boys were sitting there cracking up with laughter but I was petrified!" he told us. "But my operation went really well and the surgeon was pleased so I'm just chuffed it's over and done with.
"I've been bored out of my brains just sitting at home resting so it's been good to get back and see the lads," he added. "Mike Williamson has been excellent for me because he's been through a long-term injury and come back bigger and better so seeing the way he's dealt with it has been an inspiration."
And Russ was pleased to have his mate back around the club as the whole of the Wanderers squad look ahead to the visit of Stockport on Sunday:
"It's the first time I've seen him for three weeks and he's really upbeat. Now we want to go and get promotion for people like him, the 'gaffer' and Ian Culverhouse, but also for each other.
"Sometimes I find myself wondering what it would be like to play at Wembley but that's how complacency sets in. When we get onto the pitch against Stockport we'll be 100% focused on getting the win and I'm really looking forward to it."
See Russ and his team-mates in action on Sunday evening at Adams Park at 6pm. If you can't make it to the game, you can watch it live on Sky Sports or listen to a full commentary on Wanderers World or BBC Three Counties Radio (98FM).
Close friends Russell Martin and Matt Bloomfield told wwfc.com this week that they're confident that Wanderers can make it all the way to League One through the play-offs and make up for the heartbreak of losing out to Cheltenham two years ago.
The pair are two of the longest serving players at Adams Park and were part of the team that lost 2-1 on aggregate at Whaddon Road, but they now believe that the current squad is strong enough to get past Stockport and their Wembley opponents and return to League One after a four year absence:
World: Watch the interview with Matt Bloomfield World: Hear the thoughts of Russell Martin"We're not feeling any pressure," said right-back Russell. "We know what we're capable of and on our day we can beat anyone in this league. Losing at Cheltenham was the worst feeling I've ever had in football and I don't want to feel like that again so hopefully we can put it right this time around."
Meanwhile midfielder Bloomfield will be forced to watch Sunday's first leg match from the stand after sustaining a serious knee injury in March which ruled him out for the rest of the season, but he'll be cheering his team-mates on all the way:
"There's a belief in the camp that we can win and the lads know what they need to do," he said. "It was devastating losing in the play-offs last time but I'm convinced we'll be successful this season because we've got the right players and the team is really positive. I'll be rooting for them from my seat!"
'Blooms' has returned to the training ground this week to catch up with friends and work closely with sports consultant Dave Jones after undergoing surgery two weeks ago - an event which was preceded by a mischievous prank by some of his team-mates.
Pals such as Frank Fielding and John Sutton invited Blooms to see a film at High Wycombe's Cineworld complex, but little did the midfielder know that he was about to watch 'Alive', which is a movie about a man who wakes up halfway through an operation.
"The boys were sitting there cracking up with laughter but I was petrified!" he told us. "But my operation went really well and the surgeon was pleased so I'm just chuffed it's over and done with.
"I've been bored out of my brains just sitting at home resting so it's been good to get back and see the lads," he added. "Mike Williamson has been excellent for me because he's been through a long-term injury and come back bigger and better so seeing the way he's dealt with it has been an inspiration."
And Russ was pleased to have his mate back around the club as the whole of the Wanderers squad look ahead to the visit of Stockport on Sunday:
"It's the first time I've seen him for three weeks and he's really upbeat. Now we want to go and get promotion for people like him, the 'gaffer' and Ian Culverhouse, but also for each other.
"Sometimes I find myself wondering what it would be like to play at Wembley but that's how complacency sets in. When we get onto the pitch against Stockport we'll be 100% focused on getting the win and I'm really looking forward to it."
See Russ and his team-mates in action on Sunday evening at Adams Park at 6pm. If you can't make it to the game, you can watch it live on Sky Sports or listen to a full commentary on Wanderers World or BBC Three Counties Radio (98FM).
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