Caretaker Manager Gerry Murphy talked to htafc.com ahead of this Saturday's League One visit to Brighton's Withdean Stadium (kick-off 3pm) and he admitted that the training ground has been on a high this week following our win over local rivals Leeds United.

Murphy and his team have recently been awarded the League Managers Association 'Performance of the Week' accolade for their win and Gerry told the Club's official website it was a just reward for the players.

"I thought it was a fantastic performance. We had to lift the lads ahead of the game and get them to play with confidence; they did just that and they deserved everything they got.

"It's plain to see what effect it has had - they have had a smile on their faces all week. The lads are expressing themselves more and that helps on a Saturday when they are going out for the game. There is a lot of banter at the training ground now, which is always a good sign.

"From a confidence point of view, you won't get a better lift than that - for both the players and the fans. Every Saturday they have looked for more and expectations were high and that will have given them that boost at just the right time."

His side gave a superb display of attacking football at Elland Road, with Murphy crediting the players for their ability and commitment.

"Any manager will come into a Club and do things their own way. It's not for me or anybody else to say which way is right and which is wrong, but I'm a great believer that if the players have the ability, you have to do everything in your power to get them to express that. In general, players want to work hard and give their best.

"I'm a great believer in playing people in positions where they are comfortable and in which they will give their best performance. If people are playing out of position, you don't really see their true ability. It's a matter of square pegs in square holes."

Derby County's Liam Dickinson was not involved in the Leeds United squad before he ended his loan spell at the Galpharm Stadium; Gerry explained why this was the case.

"I looked at the situation and Liam wasn't available for the Port Vale game. He also had some family commitments ahead of that game and I didn't feel the preparation was right. Leeds would have been his last game for us, so would he be playing it for himself or Huddersfield Town? I also looked at our options and at the Leeds defence and we felt that we could get around the back of Leeds, so consequently we sent him back to Derby.

"I have to look at the long-term future of the Club and Steve Jones falls under the same mould as Liam. That's no disrespect to either player, who are very good and very professional. Steve has also had family commitments of late and so I couldn't put him in the squad for Brighton. I don't think I will be using him on Tuesday either.

"He's still here with us and he's a great lad, just like Liam was. He is a good player to have around, but I have to look at the bigger picture.

"We have players here who are here for the season and who are champing at the bit. When their chance comes, they have to be ready for it and people are waiting for the opportunity."

Since the Leeds win, calls have increased amongst fans for Murphy to take the managerial job on a full-time basis but Town's Director of Football Development is still adamant that the job is not for him.

"I hope to always be involved at the Club and I will help in any capacity that the Club asks of me. If the Club felt that there was something already here that I could help in some capacity, it wouldn't be a problem but the big picture is that this great Club of ours has to move forward. To do that we need stability - nothing will be achieved if we keep changing manager.

"I'm here, but I'd like to see what's best for the Club. If there is somebody here who might be able to do the job, but might need my help, that wouldn't be a problem to me.

Gerry is now keen for everyone to put the Leeds victory behind them and focus on this weekend's trip to the Withdean to take on Micky Adams' Seagulls.

"Last weekend was good for us all, but the fans will want the same on Saturday. We've made sure that from Monday onwards, we have been focussed on one thing - the result at Brighton.

"The Leeds result will pale into insignificance if we do not beat Brighton. The most important thing for us is to be prepared, so that the players can go out onto the pitch on Saturday and deliver. As the saying goes, 'fail to prepare - prepare to fail'."

"One swallow doesn't make a summer. I don't want to put a dampener on things, but Leeds United is gone now. I don't live in the past and I'm fully focussed on getting three points at Brighton on Saturday.

"Jim Goodwin is unavailable due to a one match suspension and Michael Flynn has had a tweak in his hamstring again; it's not as bad as the last time, but he won't be available for Saturday. Andy Booth has his long-term injury but at this moment in time, everyone else is ok.

"Mitch and I went up to Hartlepool on Tuesday night to watch Brighton in the FA Cup. They are a workmanlike side who do try to play football and they work so hard for each other.

"I like the lad Cox, who is a very clever player. Nicky Foster is a clever striker who likes to play on the shoulder of the last defender and we will have to keep our eye on him too. They have some big lads at the back and if we send the ball in the air, they will head them out all day and we have to be aware of that. If we get our passing game going and we move the ball quickly, we should be alright.

"Everybody will tell you that Leagues are not won in November or December. You set your standards and set a benchmark and if we can consistently replicate our performance at Leeds last weekend, we will be there or there abouts come May."

Get your ticket for the Brighton game - call the Galpharm Ticket Office now on 0870 44 44 552!