Buckle hopes Heed showing acts as a wake up call

TOWN boss Paul Buckle believes Saturday’s disappointing draw with Gateshead can act as a wake up call to his players, writes Mike Simmonds.

The Hatters, who are clear favourites with the bookies to win promotion from the Conference this season, found themselves 2-0 down at half time after a thoroughly flat performance.

But they battled back to draw 2-2 with a far better second 45 minutes and Buckle wants them to carry that form into tonight’s game at Kidderminster Harriers.

He said: “That’s the biggest plus for me, it’s a wake up call. We have to get up to speed quickly.

“Pre-season was great and you can have the wins like we had, but it’s a different proposition when the league starts.

“You get turned around, you have to do the ugly side and we’ve got to fast track ourselves quickly now.

“We got up and running second half, we did a lot of things right. We’re on the up because we came back and showed what we can do second half.

“I think they showed tremendous character. That shows to me that we’ve got good characters, strong characters.

“You never know how it’s going to be until you get up and running. I saw lots of things I didn’t like and we’re going to have to liven ourselves up pretty sharpish.”

Buckle had the players back in for training yesterday and told the press there was no remonstrations over the first half display, it was just getting down to the preparation for what he expects to be a difficult trip to Aggborough.

The hosts lost their opening game 1-0 at Lincoln City on Saturday as the Town boss said: “The players have come in, there has been no negativity, we’ve just been honest, very honest with each other and that’s how you want it, to put it right on the training field.

“I don’t want to dwell on the past. I’ve got my own standards and we’ve not lost a league game since I’ve been in charge.

“Any away game at any level is tough because one, they are a very good team and the second part of that is they lost at the weekend, so they’ll be up for it.

“It’s a chance for us to put a marker down. We want to put things right, a draw wasn’t good enough on Saturday, we want to get on the front foot.

“You have to be gritty, you have to do the horrible side away from home. The crowd are against you although I’m sure we’ll take good numbers.

“There’s a lot of things I’ve tried to change at the club although I’ve only been here a little while.

“We’ve still stuff to work on, and it’s a game we want to go and win, we’re not going to sit back. I’ve never done that, we’ll go there and try and win the game.”

“We’re a new side and it’s going to take some time to gel, some time for the players to understand what I want, what I know can get us out of the league.

“Once we get hold of it and get a grip, with these fans behind us, we’ll have a chance.”

With Town in action again on Friday night when they travel to newboys Hyde for a televised clash, Buckle did question the schedule which sees Town playing three times in six days.

He said: “I try my hardest not be a whinging manager. If you look at it logically, we’ve had pre-season and you get three games thrown at you in three days, two being up country, I don’t quite understand that.

“But at the same time I won’t make any excuses for it.”

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