Waddock challenges players to show same desire (From Bucks Free Press)

Waddock challenges players to show same desire

10:30am Friday 21st September 2012 in Sport By Andy Carswell

GARY Waddock says his players have to show the same levels of commitment as they did against Exeter if they're to get a result against AFC Wimbledon tomorrow.

The Blues boss had questioned the desire of some of his men after recent defeats but said they went a long way to redeeming themselves with their display on Tuesday night.

A committed defensive display limited the number of clear opportunities their high-flying opponents managed to create and Waddock wants to see more of the same.

He said: "We've spoken about it in recent days to get that side right and the players have responded. They have to put that type of commitment into any performance. If we do that consistently over the course of a season, we will pick up results.

"When you don't play well questions are asked about players' commitment. Unfortunately we've had injuries and the team's been moved around a little bit, but the first thing people will say is results aren't going right so the commitment can't be right.

"It's certainly there and we saw that on Tuesday evening."

Preston manager Graham Westley, a close friend of Waddock's, uses the mantra that attitude is more important than ability and the Wanderers manager said: "I can understand that. Attitude's very important. You also have to have ability as well.

"If you can get them both together and be consistent with both, in terms of performance you've got a chance. On Tuesday we saw both of those sides."

Waddock hasn't been helped by a succession of injuries to his side but he said he wasn't using it as an excuse for some below-par performances.

He said: "It's part and parcel of it. I'm getting a little bit tired of talking about injuries all the time. We're not using it as an excuse in any way, shape or form. It is as it is and we get on with it.

"We knew we'd have a batch of injuries at some stage, but I didn't want it so early on in the season, let's put it like that."