Buckle promises no Braintree repeat at Alfreton

New chief Paul Buckle reckons the Reds will pose a physical test for his side, but is expecting nothing like the limp performance he witnessed the week before in the 3-1 defeat at Braintree.

Alfreton are likely to provide a similar challenge to the Iron and, on what he’s learnt from that game, Buckle said: “The first thing, we’ve got to be up for the game.

“I didn’t see Forest Green but I think we let three goals in there and let another three in at Braintree and that’s not good enough.

“That will be ringing in the players’ ears when they walk out on Saturday. First and foremost we’ve got to go out and try and keep a clean sheet, clear our lines and do all the nasty side of it.

“The midfield four or five, go and have a battle in the middle, try and win the battle and then try and play.

“It doesn’t really change week to week in football, it’s very similar every game. You’ve got to do the nasty side first and if we do that, especially away from home, we give ourselves a chance.”

One of the key aspects on the training ground during Buckle’s first week has been defending set-pieces, as Luton have conceded twice from free-kicks in their last two games.

Buckle continued: “We’d done quite a bit of work on it on the Sunday to be honest, but it reared its ugly head as I said after the game.

“And we’re going to have to be better than that. It’s a big way for a team to undo us. If they are not going to undo us going through us then there’s an opportunity from set plays.

“No-one can stop a set-play coming in, it’s a free hit, that’s what it’s called, it’s a free-kick or you’ve got a throw-in or a corner.

“It’s a free hit into your box and you’ve got to be ready for it. And we’ll be working damn hard this week, because it was too easy, the goals were too easy at Braintree and the goals were far too easy at Kenilworth Road.

“We’ve got to nail that down but don’t forget about all the other stuff. There was a lot of good stuff on Monday, a lot of awful good stuff we done.”

On what he expects from Alfreton, Buckle added: “It’s very tough, any away game is difficult. We will have to go there and start very well, but really and truthfully try and take the game to them.

“That’s what we done on Monday and that’s how I like to do things. But we will have to be at our best if we’re going to get anything out of the game.

“They are a big strong side. We’ve done our homework on them so the players are in confident mood and it’s a case of trying to build on what we done on Monday.

“A physical battle. I’ve said to the players every time Luton come to play a team they raise their game. Every time a club comes to Kenilworth Road they raise their games so they’ve got nothing to lose.

“It’s going to be a tough game but one we’re looking forward to.”