Buckle: Honesty is Luton’s best policy

He hailed Luton’s ‘magnificent’ victory over Kidderminster Harriers on Tuesday night but asserted Town’s stars must keep up their performances. He said: “It’s honesty, grit, determination, you can go on and on about it, that’s what it is, that’s what it’s about. “My eyes don’t lie to me, I can see it in players a mile off. If they are milky and they don’t fancy it they’re not going to be here. “If they are up for it and they want to have a fight, we’ve got a real chance, because that’s what you need to get out of this league. “This is what you need to pick up wins on a Tuesday night, at Kidderminster, up at Hyde, you’ve got to roll your sleeves up and have a fight. That’s what we’ve got to do, that’s what we will do and we will give ourselves every chance of having a good season.” Buckle was delighted with the way Town bounced back from Saturday’s disappointing draw with Gateshead, especially their improved defensive showing. The boss said: “I thought we were in no mood to be second best all over the field and we got our rewards. “On Saturday we haven’t defended properly around the 18-yard box from a corner. “We did well on that, so that was the difference. “We were up for it and we weren’t up for it first half on Saturday, end of story. “I’ve told that to the players and said that this is the benchmark now for us. “We’ve got to be a nasty team, we’ve got to be a team that’s prepared to dig in and get the ball forward quickly and early in games. “This is a really hard place to come, but at times, without being disrespectful, we looked very solid and we made it look easy because we kept the ball on the floor. We counter-attacked very well once we had got our goals. “Of course they are going to have some chances but they were always half chances.” A changed back four played a key role, but far more important to Buckle was his players’ increased commitment. He said: “I know the players. Greg Taylor when he’s on it is a good player. He was off it on Saturday. But I’ve said to them, they are not going to get it easy with me, I’m not going to lie. “Tell me one Luton player on Saturday in the first 45 minutes that was somewhere near an eight out of 10. “There was none of them, and if you’re not you’re not going to win games, you’re not going to create things. “Against Kidderminster we were on the front foot, we got the ball forward quickly and we got into the game. “Greg never got caught on the ball, he wasn’t sloppy in possession, and I thought (Lathaniel) Rowe-Turner did excellent at left sided centre-half as well. “There’s lots of positives, the key now is to build on it. “We were well understrength because we had (Adam) Watkins, (Jake) Howells and (Danny) Spiller out. But the other boys are stepping on and people like (Matt) Robinson getting his debut was great.” Town’s urgency was a telling factor on the night, but Buckle felt his side gave away too many silly free-kicks which put them under undue pressure. He added: “The (second) goal comes from us showing some urgency to get the ball. “The ball went out of play I got the ball, we took it quick, and it was three passes and in the back of the net. “We worked on urgency and getting on the front foot and not thinking we are better than what we are. “When we do that we are hard to play against. We are a fit group so let’s show it. “Whether we are home or away let’s go for it. “We went for it and were rewarded with a great three points against a very good team. “I think again we gave too many silly fouls away. Against teams and big sides like these they lob the ball in the box. “You have to sustain some pressure, or take some pressure on the chin in away games, of course you do. “We were solid, there was no weakness. Even at the end when the ball goes to the back post to Taylor there was no weakness, he was strong because it’s been laid on the line. “If they are not at it it’s not going to be good enough and we will make changes. “But we don’t need to make any changes, it’s a very, very good night for us as a club. “It certainly reflects me and how we want to be.” For all the latest Luton Town FC news, reports, stats, player profiles, live match updates, MOM poll, prediction table and a complete fixture list, visit our Hatters Microsite.