Hard-working Hatters put in extra sessions to be a success

With an extremely busy run-in, new boss Buckle is keen that their training regime should match their schedule.

He said: “I think it’s about hard work. It’s difficult with two games in three days.

“Do we train them hard, don’t we? I went for the first one. I went to train the boys hard and they were in on the Sunday as you know.

“We came in on the Monday and had a great show, back in on Tuesday everybody, and we’re just trying to get these boys (the ones who didn’t play on Monday) up to speed.

“These are the most important players at the club, the ones that aren’t involved at the moment.

“We’ve got to get them right up to speed, as strong as we can, as fit as we can so when they get their opportunity they can take it.

“There will be no let up on the training field to go hand-in-hand with the schedule.

“We are all looking forward to it, it’s going to be a big game for us on Saturday and one we are really looking forward to.

“We’re working really hard on the training field to try to get it right on Saturday.”

Having been in charge for less than a week Buckle admitted life so far at Kenilworth Road had proved a whirlwind experience.

He continued: “It’s been such a whirlwind for me, all these new faces, new staff, new club, I’ve lost my voice from the first game.”

On whether he had been shocked by anything he’s discovered, he said: “I’ve heard lots of things, I’ve heard different stuff I don’t really want to comment on.

“All I’ve done is try to come in with a fresh outlook and do it my way, my way of doing things.

“The staff have bought into it, the players have bought into it and we’ve got an excellent work ethic on the field as you can hear.

“It’s very competitive and I’m after excellence on the training field because I believe if you do that that will come out in the games.

“I’m really hopeful I can make an impression on everyone here. They are certainly buying into it and we can get the results we need.”

After the horror show he witnessed on taking the job in the 3-1 defeat at Braintree, he was pleased with the way his side bounced back on Monday with the 4-2 victory over Hayes & Yeading.

Buckle continued: “I suppose it was (an eye opener). I don’t really want to keep on going on about Braintree because that’s gone now.

“It certainly woke me up, of course it did. It woke me up, I didn’t like what I saw.

“I was sitting in the stands watching as Luton manager and it certainly didn’t reflect me so that had to go very quickly.

“I thought we did that on Monday and got rid of it. I’m sure it’s one of the better performances that you guys have seen this season.

“And I’m asking for more from the players, and there’s more to come from this team and this squad.

“Really and truthfully we are glad Braintree’s out of the way now.

“The main one was Monday and I got the reaction I wanted and I think if we keep giving the players the confidence to express themselves in the attacking third and are not afraid to miss we can certainly go and have 20 attempts on goal like we did on Monday.

“It was certainly easy on the eye and very pleasing for me to see the finishing.

“I like my teams to attack and I said to the players before the game that once we get over the halfway line really it’s carte blanche for them.

“Go and attack teams and pull the trigger at every opportunity and they’ve done that.

“There’s always improvement. We are going to have to be at our very best again on Saturday if we are going to get anything out of the game, the players know that.

“I’ve been delighted with them this week in training. We’ve trained at tempo and they have really bought into what we’ve tried to do.

“As you can hear now the boys that have not be involved of late, the subs and the other lads, are doing a double session today to keep them up to speed.

“It’s been fantastic, absolutely fantastic. I saw lots of things I didn’t like at the Braintree game and I feel it went a long way to putting a lot of them things right on Monday and that’s why we got the win.

“We’ve got to keep on top of things and try and get the three points on Saturday.”

The victory at Hayes was a massive improvement though and he was particularly impressed with the strike pairing of Stuart Fleetwood and Andre Gray who both netted in the victory.

On Gray, he said: “That’s what he’s paid to do, that’s what all the strikers are paid to do, to work hard and effect the game and score goals.

“He’s done that, he’s up and running. Fleetwood showed as well.

“We’ve got some good strikers at the club, but it’s about the whole, it’s about the team, it’s about the squad and get a real worth ethic.

“I know I’ve said it a few times but that’s what it’s about for me. We’ve got the quality we’ve just got to get them really up to speed and really fighting for one another.

“All I can go on is the game on Monday, and with over 20 attempts on goal and four goals to the good.

“We weren’t happy with the set-plays we’ve conceded, we will try and brush up on that and give it everything we’ve got to try and be better on Saturday.

“Ultimately I’ve got to be delighted. I’m delighted at the result, and I’ve been delighted with the way they’ve responded this week in training.”

The play-off race remains wide open, but Buckle refused to look any further ahead than Saturday’s trip to the Impact Arena.

He added: “We’ve just got to go all out to win the game on Saturday.

“We went all out on Monday and I said to the players before the game if you go and give the things I’m asking for you will have a nice feeling at a quarter to five, everybody had that, now do it again on Saturday.

“I’m not interested in talking about play-offs or anything beyond Saturday’s game, it’s about training this week.

“Your eyes don’t lie and mine certainly don’t lie to me and I’m very pleased. I’m very pleased with the attitude of the players and if they can carry this into the game and be organised then we give ourselves a great chance, but we certainly won’t get ahead of ourselves.