POST-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE: McCracken on shootout win against Burnley

Duration: 7:29 1899 transcript words EN summary

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McCracken expressed immense satisfaction with his team's recent form, highlighting four consecutive clean sheets as a testament to their collective defensive solidity rather than just the goalkeeper's individual efforts. He emphasized that the entire squad is performing cohesively by denying opponents any clear-cut chances, which significantly eases the burden on the keeper. This strong unit performance has been particularly pleasing to McCracken, as it demonstrates that the team remains robust regardless of specific lineup changes or the pressure of high-stakes matches. The ability to maintain this defensive integrity over a run of games suggests a mature and well-organized group that understands its role within the broader tactical framework. The transition for McCracken into the starting goalkeeper position has been remarkably smooth, aided by the club's continuity and the strong relationships built with existing staff and players. He praised his predecessor, Sam, for his brilliance and consistency over the years, noting that while the pressure of filling big shoes is real, he prefers to focus on doing his own job without direct comparisons. McCracken also highlighted the stability provided by a manager who has been in place for some time, allowing new signings to quickly understand the system and expectations. This environment, where roles are well-defined even when players like Reece or Pennault switch positions, ensures that everyone knows exactly what is required of them, facilitating a seamless integration into the team's dynamic. The victory was sealed through a penalty shootout in which McCracken admitted he had never previously been involved in such a scenario, though he credited the extensive work done by the goalkeeping coach on set-pieces and pattern recognition. The players stepped up with confidence, treating the penalties as a special moment to be savored in front of a passionate home crowd that provided an electric atmosphere unlike anything he has experienced before. McCracken noted that the team's preparation and the goalkeeper's ability to handle pressure were key factors, but ultimately, the shared belief among all players that they could win was what made the night so special. The success at home, drawing large crowds like 20,000 supporters, reinforces the club's identity as a place where football is played with passion and support from the fans. Looking ahead, McCracken acknowledged the difficulty of sustaining this level of performance but remained confident in the team's ability to protect their lead once they are ahead. He reflected on his career influences, including his time under Steven Pressley at Dundee and his upbringing at Norwich, noting that while those managers share some traits with the current gaffer, each has a unique way of communicating expectations clearly to players. McCracken appreciated the credit given to Pressley for his recent success in Scotland, even after facing initial skepticism from fans, and expressed respect for how both he and the current manager make their tactical instructions clear. Ultimately, the focus remains on maintaining the team's constant identity and working together as a unit to avoid conceding chances, ensuring that the momentum built over the last few games continues into future fixtures.

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So, four clean sheets so far. John, was was tonight the most satisfying, would you say? >> Um I mean, it's probably just cuz it's fresh. I'm going to say yes, but no, it was uh it's just pleasing that that we're not giving up any chances. I mean, I know the goalkeeper will be the one that that gets sort of credited with the clean sheet, but it's the full team. Like, we're just I think we look really solid as a team just now. We're not we're not giving up any chances, like I say, so it makes my job a lot a lot easier. So, no credit to the team. >> And and for yourself, obviously, coming in with Sam going like that, you know, big shoes to fill, literally, cuz he's huge anyway, but obviously, you know, when you've got a keeper who's played for 2 and 1/2 years solidly, you're coming in there. Obviously, there's going to be a lot of eyes on you. So, I mean, >> [clears throat] >> this start must be you know, a dream for you. >> Yeah, no, I mean, Sam Sam was brilliant with me when I signed. Um he's he's been he's been top and some servant to the football club, like I think he's played a lot of games since since he signed, pretty much. So, um no, the the levels he's showed consistency-wise over the years has been has been brilliant. Um but I don't really want to compare myself to anyone. You know what I mean? I'm just coming in and doing my own job. So, it's um it's just pleasing that the team's managed to win four games, so that obviously that helps. >> I was going to say, mate, it's it's been a really sort of smooth transition, it seems to be. You know, I think we talked in preseason about getting to know your defense and those around you, but it you know, it seems to have have worked very clicked very quickly. >> Yeah, I mean I mean, that's something that I thought really stood out by signing at the club is the continuity that's that's happened here over there. Seems to be a lot of boys that have been here for a few years, know the manager. The manager's been here a while as well. So, I think that's um you can really see that with the way the team plays. Everybody knows what the manager wants, cuz he's he's not just came in this season and sort of changed his ways. It's it's um so, it's really easy to sort of come in and and transition into that. Good group of players, and and you know what's expected of you. >> I was going to say like obviously defensive changes like Reece coming in today for Aiden. Presumably cuz as I say those roles are almost very well defined, aren't they? So presumably from your point of view it doesn't really change the dynamic much. >> No, not at all. And I think it it helps Reece as well that we don't really change for for any team really. So Reece knows what what he has to do when he comes in and we know what's expected of Reece when he comes in. And even Pennault moving to the middle one rather than than playing the right side he comes in and plays where where Aiden's been. It's everyone knows what's expected and and it's I can say it's it's really good to have that continuity throughout the full team. >> And obviously atmosphere, you know, we we thought last Thursday and now this it's been it's a great great games to be involved in. >> Oh, no, it's been brilliant. I mean to have a a crowd like that at home singing, you know, solely supporting you the way the fans are here it's something I've never had before. So to have a home crowd like that um going with you it feels special. >> And the penalty shootout, when when was the last time you were involved in one? >> Poo. Good question. Actually, I don't know. I don't I don't know. I don't even know if I've been involved in a penalty shootout actually. >> All right. >> I don't I don't know. Have I? I don't know. I thought you'd have the stat. Um no, I thought I I couldn't comment on that but no, penalties we we do our homework on it. Doyle the goalie coach he's a he does a lot of hours working on the penalties to be fair to him. So no credit to him as well cuz um yeah, he's done he's done a lot of work on that. >> Did you have your water bottle ready? You knew where >> He did. I I had the water bottle ready and we sat down before the game and and we sort of go through what we think that the patterns look like and yeah, but like I say the the penalties it's um I thought all the lads that stepped up and took the penalties as well thought they were exceptional as well. So no credit to them. >> I was going to say that must be great for the keeper cuz obviously people sort of say oh the keeper can't lose but obviously you can. But but when you've got [clears throat] the your team putting the penalties away as confidently as that it gives you a great platform. You know, the pressure sort of eases a little bit, does it? >> It does. I mean you see them in in They're during the week practicing and and so you can't fault them. I mean, I think everyone that stepped up there and obviously see the referee pointing at what end he's got to go and and he gets the cheer. You just kind of go, "Yes, this has got to be the night cuz to get it in front of the the crowd that we did, um that was special." >> You played a different sort of games, John. You had a a couple quiet games and then you sort of had, you know, obviously you were busy at Sheffield Wednesday. You were You were busy consistently tonight, really. >> I [clears throat] know. Like I say, I think as a unit we're we're not giving away many chances no matter who we play. I think that's that's been the pleasing thing coming into the team that they might be under the cosh for 5-10 minutes, but we're not giving [snorts] many clear-cut chances away. So, we want to be that team that once we go a goal up, it sort of makes teams think about it because they know they've got to have to work really hard to break us down as it is. >> Yeah, that four games you've not conceded now as a as a as a unit you know, it's it's sort of sort of a run now, isn't it? It's sort of starting to mean something, isn't it? Isn't it? You know what I mean? You want to protect it. >> I know, definitely. I mean, don't concede, you don't lose. That's that's football. So, um long may it continue, but we know it's going to be hard to continue the the way we've done, but again, we we don't change for anyone. So, going into games, but we're constant as a team. And like I say, it starts right from the boys at the top. I know the back line they get the credit, but strikers work so hard, center mids work so hard, fullbacks. Everyone's just together and and we're not giving away many chances. >> I suppose the last two games have just shown why you were keen to sort of come south of the border, if you like, with respect. You know what I mean? 33,000 at Hillsborough, but you've had 20,000 south. That's what you You know, when you saw the Bradford City brochure, this was >> Yeah. >> the sort of thing that you you probably had in your mind, didn't it? >> I mean, I mean, you've seen how the club did last year. Um and and we want to build on that. So, um I think we've got a really good base to do that and I think it's definitely one that that sort of entices you to come down. You know, the size of a club like Bradford is playing in front of 20,000 at home and well supported away from home. It's It's um these are the sort of play football for, eh? To play in front of these crowds. >> Yeah, obviously there's strong going north of the border. Have you any sort of big influences on your on your on your career who you you sort of draw upon as Any >> I mean I really enjoyed last season working under Steven Pressley. That was that was brilliant. They sort of came in at a time where I I probably thought I was going to have to leave Dundee really to get games and and I know credit to the gaffer when he came in last season it was that was really enjoyable and then obviously I had a good a good upbringing at Norwich for 8 years I was there so my goalie coaches there obviously Ed Weidman worked with him for for many years pretty much since I went down right to the very end. I mean I could list off >> Yeah. Loads of people that are that are involved but >> No definitely I think just sort of continuing on from last season I enjoyed so much up in Dundee >> Yeah. >> with with Steven Pressley cuz like I say it was that was really enjoyable. >> Of course from the interviews with Steven and he's getting a a lot of popularity in Scotland. He seems a really good guy a sort of football person player manager. Is he what's is he similar to the gaffer here a little bit you know he's he's he's sort of his >> Um well to start with it's really good to see that he's getting the credit that he deserves cuz he wasn't getting that off the fans at the start so that's it that's really good to see that credit cuz um yeah that was that wasn't easy for us as players last season to see him you know sort of he was under the under the cosh a wee bit to start with so no they've they've had a really good start to the season um so no credit where credit's due to them but no I wouldn't say that they're too similar to the gaffer cuz >> Right. >> sorry um Steven Pressley and >> Yeah. >> and the gaffer here they're not not too similar but they've they've got a way of playing and and they know what they want and what they expect and when they make it clear what you want as a as a player that's that's what we all ask for that they make it the instruction clear going out and and that's that's where I give them credit.