PREVIEW: AFC Telford v Luton Town

To make matters worse, the Bucks were knocked out of the FA Trophy with a shock 3-1 defeat to Evo-Stik Northern League Division One South side King’s Lynn Town last week, which led to some exceedingly strong words from boss Andy Sinton, who described a ‘cancer’ inside the dressing room.

Speaking about the defeat, Sinton said: “I am not looking for scapegoats. I am responsible (for the result). It’s my team.

“I pick the players but I can tell you there is something not quite right within the dressing room that I haven’t got to grips with yet.

“I think I know where it has come from. And until that cancer or poison is eradicated I think it is going to drag us down, not out of the division, but in terms of results and performances.

“I don’t want to set it out in stone. I think that is wrong. It will be dealt with internally but there is something not quite right and it needs to be shifted.”

It seems inevitable that there will be changes at the New Bucks Head stadium in January too as Sinton continued: “We need players who want to be here for the right reasons, which the majority do and are a credit to themselves and a pleasure to work with.

“We need to weed out anyone who does not demonstrate their total commitment, determination and passion for the club.”

Goalkeeper Ryan Valentine issued an apology to the fans, while Telford’s poor indiscipline reared its ugly head again with experienced striker Steve Jones becoming the eighth player dismissed for the club this season.

All of this has come after a terrible run of form in the Conference, which has seen Telford go seven league games without win. The last triumph came way back on October 9, that an impressive 4-1 victory at Dartford.

In fact, the Bucks have only won five league games all season, one of which surprisingly came at Kenilworth Road back in August.

During that game, they were reduced to nine men, while Hatters had Ronnie Henry sent off and also Jon Shaw given a three match ban after the game, as both sides were charged with failing to control their players.

Sinton did try to bolster his squad before the loan window shut, signing Michael Wylde from Cambridge for a month, although they lost Liam Chilvers to Port Vale.

Former Premier League striker and Jamaican internation Darrey Byfield won’t be staying with the club past January though with his contract not being extended due to a hamstring injury as he has scored just once during this time

Team news: Hatters are still without Danny Spiller (achilles) and Garry Richards (ankle), but Andre Gray is expected to be available after his calf injury, leaving Town will virtually a fully fit squad to choose from.

For the Bucks, centre-back Jordan Rose is still carrying a niggling Achilles injury, but top scorer Steve Jones is definitely out as he starts a four-game ban following his red card against King’s Lynn.

Top BSBP scorers: Bucks – Steve Jones (7). Hatters – Stuart Fleetwood (10).

In charge: Andy Sinton – flying winger who won 12 international caps for England, his debut in a 1-1 draw in Poland in 1991, before finishing with the 7-1 win at San Marino in 1993.

His career included spells with Spurs, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday and Wolves, before joining Fleet Town, where he became football development officer. Sinton took over as manager and was then appointed AFC Telford boss on May 26, 2010.

In his first season, he led the Bucks to second place in Conference North and clinched promotion to the Conference via the play-offs.

View from the opposition: Captain Ryan Valentine - “We will be massive underdogs going into that game probably now because of the way we have played over the last couple of months.

“Some people will look at it and say it is a hard game, but it’s probably what we need to be honest in a weird kind of way, a Luton, a Grimsby or a Newport, a top three or four side.

“It is probably a good game for us to bounce back and, as long as we go onto the pitch with an honesty and a desire from ourselves, then I think we can put in a much better performance.

“We owe it firstly to ourselves but then also to the fans, the club, the manager and everyone else connected to the club.”

Meanwhile, Will Salmon added: “We know what can happen in football. When you least expect a win it can happen and that is what we will be looking to do.

“We played really well at Kenilworth Road against arguably the best side in the league, so we have proved we can do it.”

One to watch: Steven Leslie - experienced midfielder who came through the ranks at Shrewsbury and had spells with Hereford and Wrexham last season, before moving to Telford in the summer.

Has scored twice in his last two league games making it three goals for the season so far.

Last time out: Town were comfortable 2-0 winners in their last and only ever previous visit to AFC Telford back in September last year.

Amari Morgan-Smith gave the visitors an eighth minute lead before doubling the advantage moments after the break.

Town had to play out the final 23 minutes with 10 men though when Ed Asafu-Adjaye was sent off after picking up his second yellow card.

Hatters: Mark Tyler, Dean Beckwith, Jake Howells, Ed Asafu-Adjaye, Will Antwi, Keith Keane, Alex Lawless, Robbie Willmott (Adam Watkins 89), Amari Morgan-Smith, Danny Crow (James Dance 71), Stuart Fleetwood (Aaron O’Connor 82)

Attendance: 2,640.

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