There are no easy games...otherwise there would never be upsets...
It’s adage that never wears thin. But it’s true, and boss Paul Buckle knows after last Tuesday’s draw in the FA Trophy that his side will have his work cut out when the Town meet Dorchester once more.
This time a place a place in the third round of the FA Cup is at stake and the opportunity for the Hatters. While both sides are sure to have gained an idea of strengths and weaknesses from Tuesday’s game, Saturday will be a different kettle of fish all together.
Confidence in his side to deliver is evident to see and Buckle has every reason to trust his players as the Town head into what could prove to be a tricky encounter.
“There are no easy games in the FA Cup,” Buckle said at his press conference on Thursday, held in the plush surroundings of the media department at the University of Bedfordshire. “If there were there would be no upsets
“We know of the warning from Dorchester. “We play a team that has already put a Football League side out, but I must stress it is about us, it’s not about the opposition it’s about what we do and how we approach the game.
“The most important thing for us is we treat the game right, treat them with respect and make sure we go about our business in the correct way,”
“In reflection of the game on Tuesday night maybe we should have won the game but now we know heading into this game we've got to be at our best.
“Dorchester have got good players in the team they showed that by going through in the last round against Plymouth.
“They have a lot of ex-league players there so the gap between isn't that great which they showed in the last round.”
As the Town have seen already numerous times this season teams head to Kenilworth Road and deploy a defensive stance to frustrate the Hatters but when Buckle was asked if he expected the Magpies to follow suit he remained cautious about their flexibility in selecting tactics.
“They played 4-4-2 against us on Tuesday night and we were set up 4-4-2 so it was evenly matched,” Said the former FA Trophy finalist,” said the boss.
“Whether they will put another man in midfield or stick to 4-4-2 I'm not sure.
“It's important that we come out of the traps and we show our supporters we want to be on the front foot and to put teams under pressure and that's what we will try and do on Saturday.”
Plymouth Argyle fell victim to the Magpies in the previous round of the FA Cup and with this knowledge imprinted into his squad, Buckle is ensuring Dorchester are approached with the utmost respect.
“I think the third round is massive for any lower level club so it’s all to play for,” said Buckle. “It’s a huge game for both clubs. We've treated all the cups with respect and that's it.
“I've got through to the third round a few times and also to the fourth round but it takes a lot of hard work and preparation.
“To play against teams below you and above you, you have to prepare right and I feel we have always done that with games gone by and this one will be no different.
“It will be a tough, tough game on Saturday but it will be a tough game for them as well if we play to our usual standards.”
With the promise of a dream third round tie in the balance the Hatters manager wants to continue his side's run of form into the new year with his key word being “momentum” and reiterates his views that despite the build up of fixtures he will not field a weakened side.
“Winning games or drawing games and getting on a run is a great thing for any club,” he said.
“I said the other week I won't play a weakened team because I want to instil momentum into the side and a winning mentality at the club, and the way you do that is by winning games and taking games very seriously.
“I'm sure if we go through it will add momentum and that winning mentality.”