MNUFC2 Head Coach Cameron Knowles

Thoughts on the first win and overall performance...

"It was an important result for us and a good performance from the players. We really wanted to start this game on the front foot and be aggressive and the players did exactly that in the first half. To then come out in the second half and do what we needed to secure 3 points I was really happy for them. Salt Lake are a young team but a very talented one, and they kept pushing until the final whistle. We obviously would have preferred to keep the clean sheet, and we will go over those moments with the guys, but it is a big step forward for our players and this team to be able to close out a game, and I couldn’t be happier for the group."

On performance from Nabi and AZ in central midfield...

"Nabi has been used primarily as a right back this season, so for him to step in to central midfield and put in the performance he did was fantastic. He was steady on both sides of the ball and didn’t miss a beat playing a different role. It was great to see Nabi rewarded with a goal on the back of a good performance. Jeremy had talked to the guys earlier today about trying to exploit the back post on set pieces, and the service and the run were spot on."

"AZ picked up from where he left off last week. He came in at halftime of our last game and brought a lot of energy and quality to the game and he did the same here tonight. We were much better pressing in the front half in this game and created a number of chances from that pressure. The front 4 were more aggressive in their defending tonight and it paid dividends. It was great to see AZ get the reward for the work he’s put in over the last few weeks."