WE will be going to Swindon Town on Saturday with a “we will not be beaten” mentality.

I know that puts it out there and it’s a brave call.

But our mentality has to change.

It needs to go back to what is was before our last two games which were both disappointing and really hurt.

It’s tough for any professional to be beaten at home.

We had two big crowds in against Millwall and Doncaster, totalling more than 17,000 fans and you want to turn it on in front of them.

You want to entertain and you want to win so it’s very frustrating to lose in the manner in which we did.

It’s a tough month now but it’s a tough month with a group of players fighting for chances.

The last week we’ve let our standards slip as individuals and collectively too.

I’m not playing the players here, I’m blaming myself and we need to get back to the levels we set ourselves in the first 22 games of the season because we’re still well placed to have the success we all want.

Echo:

Noel Hunt shows his disappointment during the defeat to Doncaster 

PLAYERS' ATTITUDE WAS SPOT ON

I WAS delighted with the attitude of the players in our behind closed doors game with Gillingham this week.

We marked Gillingham’s card before the game that we would be fielding a strong side and they were perfectly happy for their youngsters to have that kind of test.

They were also pleased for them to play at a first team ground and, to be fair, they kept on going.

When it was 8-0, Luke Prosser slid across to take one in the proverbials and Ted Smith made a great save too.

It was a good solid performance and I now have to decide who deserves to come back in for Saturday.

Michael Timlin is in my thoughts and it was good to see him back on the pitch against Gillingham as well.

The most he was ever going to do was 65 minutes and he showed his normal attitude and desire to get that first goal.

CLUBS LOOKING AT OUR PLAYERS

THERE has been an awful lot of interest in our players already in the transfer window which I have to say I’m delighted with.

I’ve had League One managers on the phone and one in the Championship as well.

The players on the periphery of things here at the moment are wanted elsewhere and so are some in the first team.

Echo:

Daniel Bentley - speculation surrounding his future

But, at this moment in time, I want to keep my squad together if I possibly can.

I know everyone will be talking about Dan Bentley and it’s a challenge of mine to keep him here long term.

It’s a challenge of mine to keep him here until the end of the season as well.

If that means an extension of a contract then so be it.

But it’s also a challenge for the chairman to turn down interest from elsewhere which is what we did in the last window.

However, we will just have to wait and see what the next 20 odd days bring.

CHANCE FOR KIDS

WITH the loans of Glen Rea and Joe Pigott expiring it opens up places in the squad.

And if you’re Jason Williams, Jack Bridge, Joe Bedford or Dan Walker you should be thinking here’s another chance for me.

I went to West Ham under 21s on Monday and because of the success of the kids they’re bringing through they’re getting between 700 and 1,000 and those games.

I was delighted I went as well because the standard was excellent and you can see a club who believe in their youth set up.

They bring them through to the first team and that’s what I’m all about too so I would love to see two or three come through for us this year.