Waddock looking for fighters (From Bucks Free Press)

Waddock looking for fighters

1:21pm Sunday 16th September 2012 in Sport By Andy Carswell

GARY Waddock told his players to look at the League Two table in today’s papers to underline their poor run of form.

The Blues boss said the Wanderers team needs more fighters in it after they were beaten for the third time in five games to slip into the bottom five of the Football League.

Ten man Wycombe briefly threatened a comeback against Chesterfield on Saturday as they pulled it back to 2-1, but Waddock said he wants his men to start playing while they’re still in the game.

He said: “When it’s 2-0 you can play. You have to turn up when it’s three o’clock or quarter to eight, when it’s 0-0 – that’s when the real players play.

“That’s what I’ve said to the players in there. It’s all very well when you’re losing a game, you’ve got to be turning up and be players when it counts, when it’s 0-0 and the game’s in the balance.

“We need some fighters who are going to roll their sleeves up, like the staff, and get on with it and see us through this spell.

“At the moment we are not getting the breaks, whether it’s an injury, sending off or whatever, but we have to be able to stand up to that and get on with it, be determined and find out who the characters are in the dressing room to come through this period.

“I’ve said to the players to go and have a look at the papers tomorrow and see where we are in the league table.”

Wanderers put in a better technical display than they did against Cheltenham last week but were hampered by the early dismissal of defender Leon Johnson.

He was shown the red card after just ten minutes for pulling back Spireites striker Marc Richards when he was through on goal, with Blues conceding twice shortly afterwards.

Blues showed flashes of promise going forward as they sought a way back into the game, especially thanks to winger Joel Grant, who Waddock said was unplayable at times.

The Wanderers manager said: “I was pleased with that side of it, in terms of possession. We did better on that side and we want to continue to do so, but we still lost the game.

“It’s about character, determination, desire, commitment – that’s what you need when things aren’t going your way. We’ve got to stick the brakes on at some stage. It can’t go forever – it won’t – but they have got to realise that and the sooner the better.”

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