Harrison Minturn said he has exceeded his own expectations this season

Harrison Minturn said that he feels that his season has exceeded expectations so far following his fine display against Stevenage. Total Sport’s Joe Acklam spoke to the defender after the game.

Minturn was called into action sooner than expected as he was brought off the bench after half an hour due to an injury to Tom Brewitt against The Boro.

The academy product said that he needed to be switched on when he was suddenly called into action during the first half to deal with the difficulties of playing a team like Stevenage.

He said: “I think you have to be very ready [to go into a game like that], the ball skims off the pitch and you have players running in behind you.

“You have to be prepared to get the ball when they throw it at you because that is how they play, and they have a very high press which makes it ten times harder.

“I think my season overall has been really good, it hasn’t come about in the best of ways with people getting injured, but I feel I have done well when I have come in and played.

“I think I have really taken the opportunity, if I think back to the start of the season, I think I have exceeded expectations.

“I wanted to just get a game and get a feel of it, but really, I think I have done more than what I would have expected.

“I would now like to push myself and go and get more games next year and try and cement a first team spot.”

Minturn has now played seven times in League Two this season, and three of those matches have been against sides in the top five in the division.

He said: “I was thinking when I came on about how I had played against Carlisle [United] and Leyton Orient, so it couldn’t be too different playing against Stevenage.

“I think I have had the best in the bunch in this league, it is probably the best taste of League Two and has helped me to progress and get better as a player.

“Going to Chippenham [Town] was really good for me, especially in a game like today when they are just pinging balls at you and you have to win your battles.

“I even played in the FA Cup against teams like Lincoln [City] and Burton [Albion], so that has helped me massively as well as being a big confidence booster.

“But it is also my game to play out and I am not too worried about losing the ball, as a fan it must be a bit scary, but I think you have to try and take that risk.

“When I get more games under my belt I will get better with it and not make many silly errors and it will become even more natural.

“[On his Ronaldo chop in his own box] I do that skill quite often and I don’t want to give too much away, but it is a good skill to have.

“When they press you quite high, they think you are just going to launch it down the line.

“It is risky, but I think most of the time it will come off.”