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Club News

Howarth: Stand Up And Be Counted

17 September 2012

Club News

Howarth: Stand Up And Be Counted

17 September 2012

Neil Howarth backs the players to respond to the weekend's disappointing defeat.

Neil Howarth speak to the media ahead of tomorrow night's home match v. Oxford United:

"We are pleased to have a game so soon after the weekend. It's one of those game where we want to right a few wrongs. It's going to be a great atmosphere, I know that and it's two teams on the back of a bad result. We know each other quite well and the gaffer and I have come across Chris Wilder's teams in the Conference with Kidderminster and we've had a good few battles. It's a local derby and there will be a good crowd so it's a game we need right now.

"Oxford are a good team but so are we and, come the end of the season, we'll be in a better position than we are now. Both teams want to put results from the weekend behind them and pick up some points.

"We've looked at the DVD already and there were a lot of good things to come out of the game on Saturday. We created a plenty of chances and there was some good forward play but I feel we went a little soft for ten minutes when we really need to roll our sleeves up and stand up to be counted. There were balls coming into our box and we had some big players in the box that went missing and that is unlike them. I don't like commenting on referees but Stevey Elliott was fouled for their second goal and that is when, for the third goal, we need to stand up and be counted. You have to have to right mentality when things aren't going your way.

"I'm pretty certain that everyone who was available at the weekend will be available tomorrow night. We are expecting Chris Zebroski to come in and train today and we are quite well physically. Alan Bennett is a very fit lad. He wins the fitness tests, he looks after himself and he is a good pro but he has had a few setbacks in the last three or four weeks and Tuesday may come too early for him but he would love to play. He is keen and he wants to play but he is also professional and you have to be led by the player sometimes. We have a very good medical team and they know what is best for the team and player in the long run.

"We will probably highlight a few things from the DVD for the players before tomorrow night and try to get a few pointers across where we can make improvements.  You identify problems and then you work on them on the training pitch. There is nothing majorly wrong and there is no recurring problem but we need to cut out the errors. They are good players and they are strong mentally. There is nothing majorly wrong but they need to be reminded. The gaffer is good at man management and he does get the best out of players and hopefully he can do that for Tuesday night."

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