Boss playing down clash with promotion rivals
To most it’s one of the biggest games of the season so far but to boss Paul Buckle the Town’s trip to Newport will be like any other game.
Tonight the Hatters travel to South Wales with the chance to push themselves right in the mix for top spot. Three points would put them level second and just a point off top with a game in hand.
However, Buckle isn’t buying into the hysteria surrounding an eagerly-anticipated clash between two of the Blue Square Bet Premier’s title chasers at Rodney Parade.
“Nothing will be decided after this game at all,” he said at his pre-match press call on Monday morning. “We’ll approach it in the same manner as we have done all of the other games.
“Our away record is very good and we’ll certainly just be concentrating on that.
"The players are aware of our position in the league and everything, but I don’t think that the league will sort itself out until January.
“I know that if our team plays with the spirit and desire shown on Saturday and the quality in the team, we will take some stopping.
“I know what the players are capable of, we just need some consistency. We need to get out of the blocks, get our tackles in and win our headers, and that gives us a good foundation to get a result.”
The Town make their first ever visit to Rodney Parade without the services of Janos Kovacs.
The central defender who excelled against Alfreton at the weekend picked up a fifth yellow card during the 3-0 win and serves a one-match.
That paves the way for a possible return to defence for either Dean Beckwith or Alex Lacey – both of whom broke noses in separate games against Dorchester.
“They might be a little bit crooked, but that’s part of their job. They’re not going to be into their looks I wouldn’t have thought,” joked Buckle.
“They’re both strong lads and have had enough time for that to heal up.
“They’ve both put themselves on the line though and I don’t want to see people get broken noses, but at the same time, it shows they’re putting their head in where it hurts and that’s what we have to do.
“But I’ve got players who can come in and do well for me, and I trust all of the squad and they’ve proved that I have got good competition for places.
"We’ve not got massive numbers, but what makes us very healthy is that the players are all treated the same whether they are in or out of the team. Whoever comes in I’m sure will do a good job for us.”
Full audio commentary is available on Hatters Player tonight with instant live text updates available on Twitter and Facebook throughout the 90 minutes.