Harvey Rodgers is confident he and his Accrington Stanley teammates can use Tuesday’s performance to boost their battle against the drop with two games to go.
The defender played his part in the Stanley side which shut-out Play-Off chasing Bolton and celebrated a 1-0 win at the University of Bolton Stadium.
Now they go into a massive game against relegation rivals Cambridge United at the Wham Stadium, needing back-to-back victories to give them a chance of still being in League One next season.
“Bolton was a massive win, I don’t think many people would have given us a chance to go there and win,” said the 26-year-old, who has played almost 150 games for the Reds in his two spells at the club.
“Looking at the Oxford result on Tuesday, a point wouldn’t have been enough so the win was massive and I think you could see that in the reaction of the players after the game.
“One result is not enough though and we need six points minimum to give us a chance of staying up so we have to back it up on Saturday.
“It’s a good opportunity against a team around us and there is no reason why we can’t beat them, we already have this season.”
He admitted it has been a tough season for the Reds as they are fighting to extend their five years in League One.
“The mood in dressing room was very low for the last few weeks, we have been down, myself included and you start doubting yourselves, so to put in a performance like that on Tuesday has lifted us massively and you come in today and there are smiles back on faces. It’s been a big lift.
“It can only be positive that we have performed well on Tuesday and have shown that we can do it. It’s got to the point of the season where it’s do-or-die and hopefully we can use it on Saturday.”
Rodgers was with the Reds on loan from Hull City in 2017 before joining Fleetwood. He returned to the Reds in 2018.
“I came back in the January of the season we got promoted. I was there the year before and we were struggling when I came and we managed to stay up comfortably but there is no way I thought they would get promoted the next season.
“It took a massive effort to get promoted to League One and we have done well ever since to stay in League One and compete.
“I think it’s important, if we are going to go down, we show some fight and go down fighting.
“I want to keep us in this division. I am not personally contracted to the team next season but I will always give my all every game and everyone in the team will do the same.
“I could be without a job next season so I am performing for myself and for the fans, I want to keep the club in League One.”
There are 1,000 tickets selling at £5 for the Coppice End and Rodgers hopes the Wham Stadium is packed.
“The fans have always been behind us. We haven’t been good enough all season and they have still stuck by us. We have rarely been booed and, if I was a fan I probably would have booed us a few times this season, so I would just like them to get behind us one last time and give us the push we need.
“I think they get it. We have got that underdog mentality, they understand what we are up against with big teams in this league. That’s no excuse, some weeks we haven’t been good enough but they have stuck by us and we appreciate it.
“If we have given everything and it’s not enough we have to hold our hands up that we haven’t been good enough over the season. I just want the fans to know we will give everything.
“With three games to go, nobody would have given us a chance at Bolton and, if we go on and win the two games and stay up, it will be an unreal feeling.”
The full pre-match interview with Harvey Rodgers is available to watch on the club's official YouTube channel, CLICK HERE to find out more!