Ben Herd / Ben Herd / 07 April 2010 / Leave a comment " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet View Market

After another impressive victory Ben Herd chats to the Macclesfield goalkeeper about his hopes for the season and the tragic death of club's manager, Keith Alexander.

"We now have a little huddle just before kick-off, where we remind ourselves of the Gaffer, we also have a minute in the dressing room to ourselves to think of him."

Our rich vein of form continued as we took four points over Easter. First up was a tricky looking fixture, away to Macclesfield, where we nicked a point. It wasn't a vintage Aldershot performance but at this stage of the season you can never underestimate the value of a point. Next up, on Easter Monday, was our play-off rivals, Rotherham; again we didn't start too well but came away eventual 3-0 winners. The man answering the questions this week for betting.betfair is Macc goalkeeper Jonny Brain. Here's what he had to say:

So Jonny, what did you make of Saturday's game?

We got off to a dream start by winning a penalty in the very first minute, unfortunately for us we found your goalkeeper in inspirational form and he saved the penalty. The coach decided to play two big men up top to try and unsettle Aldershot by flicking balls on over the top for them because it is very difficult to get the ball down and play on a surface like ours. We thought that we would get the ball forward as early as possible and play in Aldershot's half, hopefully nicking something by forcing them into a mistake. As I say, our style of football generally means we only create solitary chances in most games, but in this game, we created more than enough to win, but were a little unlucky that Aldershot's 'keeper' was magnificent.

How pleased have you been with your form this season and who will you be voting for as Macclesfield's player of the season?

I started the season wanting to play as many games as possible and try to improve on last season. I have done exactly that and as a defensive unit we have conceded fewer goals this term and generally been harder to get past. Playing for a club like Macclesfield you have to appreciate that it is going to be hard to compete at the top end of the table given our resources compared to others in League Two. However, we have done enough to stay in the League, so that has to go down as a positive. As for my vote, I would have to say Lee Bell, he has been integral in the centre of midfield for us and has performed consistently well for the entire season.

The death of manager Keith Alexander has obviously cast a shadow over the club, how has it affected you?

I am 27 and played over 200 games in my career and I can honestly say that the whole experience has been the most surreal. It was really weird, one minute the Gaffer was talking about our defeat at Nott's County and saying that he would see us on the Thursday, and then I wake up on Wednesday morning to find out that he had passed away. Mac is a very close knit club, we don't have a huge entourage of staff like some clubs have, and I feel that it has brought everybody closer together. We now have a little huddle just before kick-off, where we remind ourselves of the Gaffer, we also have a minute in the dressing room to ourselves to think of him. I know a lot of people have commented on what a top bloke Keith was and to be honest, they are 100% right. In all my years in football I haven't come across a nicer man, he was so laid back and relaxed and knew exactly how to talk to players, football has lost a real gent.

Finally, who has had the biggest influence on your career?

Alan Irvine, he was my coach as a youngster at Newcastle United and everything about him was first class. I was only young but he really took the time to make sure I was settling in. His training sessions were always enjoyable and very good, but his biggest attribute was that he knew how to man manage players, exactly how to talk to each and every player.


Football

Favourite Premier League Player? Shay Given
Favourite player outside the Premier League? Lionel Messi
Manager you'd most like to work under? Jose Mourinho
Club you'd most like to play for? Newcastle United

Best mate in Football? Johnny Allan, Paul Reid
Messiest eater? Ben Wright
Biggest ladies man? Ross Draper
Worse Dressed team-mate? Matthew Tipton

Non-football

Dream date? Sienna Miller
Favourite TV programme? Two-and-a-half men
Favourite shop? ASDA
Worst vice? I always have to have pasta and chicken on a Friday night!
Biggest pet hate? Tight people!

50/50

Chinese or Curry? Chinese
Pepsi or Coke? Coke
BMW or Audi? Audi
Pro Evo or Fifa? Fifa
Michael Buble or Akon? Akon

Tags: Aldershot Town, Ben Herd, Ben's Banter, Keith Alexander, League Two football betting, Macclesfield Town