JAKE Buxton says that it’s a massive weekend for his team as they look for a clean sheet and to put points on the board against AFC Wimbledon on Saturday (kick off 3pm).
The manager says that spirits within the squad remain good despite the disappointment of losing to Rochdale on Tuesday night.
He said: “It’s my job to make sure that morale is good within the group. You do have to lift them at times but there is no one walking around training sulking, nobody with their head down.
"At this moment in time they are still chomping at the bit.
“The results haven’t gone the way we would have wanted and there is no hiding away from the fact that we have to step up to the challenge. We have to role our sleeves up and be ready for the fight, and I’m sure that the lads I put out there on Saturday will do that.”
Buxton says there are positives to take from Tuesday night’s game.
“Kieran O’Hara was a positive and he probably deserved a clean sheet. Sam Hughes and John-Joe O’Toole performed to a good level and Stephen Quinn did 90 minutes and did well. Kane Hemmings again put a shift in and Indiana Vassilev was a threat on the flank, but in other areas the lads aren’t exactly nailing down a shirt and it’s up to the other lads in training to be ready to go when that opportunity comes and they then take that chance.”
Buxton also believes new loan signing Niall Ennis will make an impact.
He said: “Niall has not had much football so it will take time to build him into the games. But we like what we have seen, he looks like he can be a threat and he’s trained very well.”
Buxton also sees signs that the Brewers defence is becoming more solid after the introduction of Sam Hughes.
He said: “We are going in the right direction in terms of the goals we are conceding and now need that clean sheet. We need to make sure we implement our game plan and to do our jobs on set plays.
“It’s a big couple of weeks with games coming thick and fast in the rest of October. Rochdale has gone and now it’s a massive weekend for us.
“Ultimately, results have to improve and we need to get points on the board.”