Ben Herd / Ben Herd / 17 February 2010 / 4 Comments " class="free-bet-btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">Free Bet View Market

After a superb victory for Herdy and his Aldershot team-mates, our man chatted with Northampton's young vice-captain about his side's promotion hopes.

"The new Gaffer has made us harder to beat and we have become a lot more consistent."

It was Friday night football for us last weekend, as we dispatched Northampton 3-0.

Northampton are the inform side in the League, so it was a superb victory for us, to put us back on track in our play-off hunt. The game itself was a bit of an ill tempered affair, with our hosts going down to 10 men within the first ten minutes.

Ryan Gilligan is the man in the hot seat for betting.betfair this week. Ryan has played over 165 games for Northampton and was recently installed as the club's vice captain - all this by the age of twenty three! Here's what he had to say:

So Ryan, what did you make of the game?

It was a typical League 2 game, very scrappy and physical. The main turning point was the sending off; not only did we lose a player but Aldershot scored from the resulting free-kick. It was a double whammy because usually when you go down to 10 men you can shut up shop and consolidate, but as I said, you (Aldershot) scored from the free-kick which meant we had to come out and play. That left us vulnerable. We had been in decent form up until this game, with seven wins out of nine, so we will have to pick up again against Crewe.

How would has your season has fared both personally and as a club?

We are probably viewed as one of the bigger clubs in the division so you would have to say that it has gone brilliantly so far, although we have had a change of manager and we are starting to look like we may make a challenge on the play-offs. The new Gaffer has made us harder to beat and we have become a lot more consistent. From a personal point of view, I have played 35 games and scored nine League goals, so I think I've played quite well. I have to give a lot of credit to the new manager because he has let me express myself and given me more license to get forward.

Where would you like to be in three years time?

I have been at a Championship club before, so I know what is required to get back to that level. Also, I have played most of my career at League 1 level so I know I can play there. It is about getting a chance and showing what you can do.

Who has been your biggest influence on your career?

My Mum and Dad. My Dad, because he played a lot of games in his career and has obviously passed on his experiences to me. Not only that, he is always on the end of a phone giving me advice. But he has never been one of those pushy kind of Dads. My Mum, because she has always been there for me and encouraged me even when I have been a right toe rag!

Are there any decent young players at Northampton who we should be keeping an eye on?

Alex Dyer, he is a central midfielder and is only 20. He has not quite filled out yet but when he does he will be some player. It is just a case of him getting some experience through playing games.

Football

Favourite Premier League Player? Paul Scholes
Favourite player outside the Premier League? Lionel Messi
Manager you'd most like to work under? Arsene Wenger
Club you'd most like to play for? West Ham

Best mate in Football? Jay Demerit
Messiest eater? Abdou Osman
Biggest ladies man? Dean Beckwith
Worse Dressed team-mate? Luke Guttridge

Non-football

Dream date? Natalie Portman
Favourite TV programme? 24
Favourite shop? Selfridges
Worst vice? Watches
Biggest pet hate? Untidy people!

50/50

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

Tags: Aldershot Town, Ben Herd, Ben's Banter, League Two football betting, Northampton Town, Ryan Gilligan