Gaz demands same again from players (From Bucks Free Press)

Gaz demands same again from players

2:00pm Friday 12th October 2012 in Sport By Andy Carswell

A NEW benchmark was set for how Gareth Ainsworth wants his players to perform during the Johnstone's Paint Trophy win at Portsmouth.

The caretaker boss says his players have no excuse for letting their level of performance drop having seen what they're capable of during his time in charge.

The win at Fratton Park was the undoubted highlight as a full blooded display from Blues enabled them to pull off a deserved cup shock win.

And when asked if that had set the benchmark for the rest of the season, Ainsworth said: "Maybe not result wise but performance wise.

"We're not going to win every game, otherwise we'll get promotion and win the FA Cup and that's not going to happen. We want performances like that, that's the key thing.

"You set your standards and they have shown me they can do that against Plymouth, Torquay and Portsmouth. It's not been a fluke, it's not a one-off. They have done it in three games and with different personnel. It's not just an eleven, it's 15 or 16 different players I've used in the three games.

"They have all shown me what they can do so there's no reason now not to perform any less, unless you've got an injury. If you're fit I know you can do it. You have to do it every week - that's how you play for Gareth Ainsworth's side."

The Blues boss is demanding the same levels of commitment again as Wanderers look to continue their recent upturn in form at Fleetwood tomorrow.

While Wanderers pulled off a cup shock this week, they were on the wrong end of an upset the last time they visited Highbury as the-then non league Cod Army dumped Blues out of the FA Cup in last season's first round.

Ainsworth wasn't involved that day due to a hand injury but said: "It was a bad day. We've all had bad days - the main thing is how you react in putting it right.

"We'll prepare right and see if we can keep the performances we are getting. I'm sure we can give a better game than we did a year ago."

Victory at Fratton Park ended Blues' four game losing streak away from home, although Fleetwood have lost just one of their last ten matches.