Blog: Bucks need a ruthless streak

Granted, a clean sheet might not seem that important. To me though,it is massive – even if it was claimed from a 75 minute game due to the incessant time wasting tactics of Jose Veiga in the Worcester goal and their left back Lewis Deeney that referee Mr D'Aguilar failed to notice.

Apart from that issue, he did referee the game in a very positive manner, communicating well with the players and talking them through his decisions. Perhaps on occasion he was too friendly as he didn't prevent the time wasting antics.

On a different day, we could have won the game comfortably 4/5-0, if one of our chances that were cleared off the line or that rebounded off the woodwork had gone in. Had one nestled in the back of the net, you got the impression that the opposition would have crumbled.

On the back of a 3 or 4 goal victory, you can't help but think that many of the supporters would have had little to grumble about. As it was, failure to capitilise and put three points on the board gave many the chance to complain.

We really do need to develop a ruthless streak – the game is certainly all about fine margins, but we need to be more clinical in the final third. Not to mention a way of changing things around a little bit when we are struggling to get our wingers into the game. Both Clancy and Booth started the game brightly, but then didn't live up to the heights they have set themselves previously.

They became deprived of service and when they went looking for it, ended up with us losing our shape somewhat. Sean definitely seems a confidence player, yet since he won his Player of the Month Award, either he has lost a little belief in himself, or teams have wised up to his threat and have cut off the supply line.

The competition for places in wide areas is definitely there in the form of McGinn, Phenix and Cooke all chomping at the bit – and doubtless we did miss the attacking threat from right back with the absence of Wes Baynes through illness, just as he was beginning to settle at the club, showing positive signs as an attacking threat down the right, but we need to ensure we have the ability to get the ball to these wide men with good quality balls, not necessarily hitting channels where they need to contest a 50/50 and gamble on someone picking off the second ball.

Ability to put their foot on the ball and move it around will see us utilise our plethora of attacking options, otherwise we are going to be faced with wingers who never get into games and strikers who are not being created for. And as everyone knows, goals win games and turn the point gained from a 0-0 draw, into three points for a 1, 2, 3, or 4 goal victory.

Back again to the clean sheet and I must admit that we looked a lot more solid at the back on Tuesday night. It's now just a case of building from the back, on solid foundations and trusting our players to be able to play the composure 10-15 yard pass and get themselves into the position where they can receive the ball again and move it through the midfield third and up to the strikers without giving everyone a stiff neck!

I'm guessing (or rather hoping) Baynes is fit enough to come in and play in central midfield at the expense of Grogan who will be a big miss – that we have the same back four as the Worcester game. The wingers and two central strikers are the more difficult part of Watson's selection in my view... Cooke being an exciting proposition, but maybe it is too early to start him.

Phenix will be eager to start, but would he be better through the middle facing a central pairing that are not the most mobile? If that's the case, who is it at the expense of – Tony Gray or Adam Farrell, both of whom offer different things. Then there is the industry of McGinn, the guile of Robbie Booth and the trickery of the fleet footed Sean Clancy.

What a conundrum indeed. With all that said, it's going to be interesting to see how Liam Watson does set us up for Saturday.

I'm hoping we can register a victory and start putting some money in the bank as we could really do with the shot in the arm of a decent cup run, something we haven't had since possibly the Setanta Shield/ FA Trophy semi final season.

Come on Bucks! Let's make this happen! And hopefully we will have a bumper crowd there come 3pm on Saturday with the majority of those in attendance going home happy!

What we don't want to see is us being out numbered on our own ground by a swollen away following, supporting Rob Smith's men on his return to his former stomping ground. Fortress New Bucks Head needs to be bouncing, so come on YOU WHITES!

Adults: £11.00

Concessions: £8.00

16-19 Year Olds: £5.00

Under 16?s: £2.00.