I’M still fuming about our performance at MK Dons in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

The attitude and work-rate was very poor and just not acceptable.

Words were said after the game and we can’t let it happen again because, I’ll be honest, I thought it was embarrassing.

There were big gaps all over the pitch and we just allowed them to run at us.

MK Dons are one of the best teams in our league so we were never going to get away with that and too many of our lads seemed to be treating it like a pre-season friendly.

It’s strange because at Stockport just a few days before we produced a good performance to get back to winning ways in the league which was great.

We need to get back to that straight away and improve the work-rate because the gaffer won’t accept anything less.

Southampton will provide a stern test for us because they are a massive club at this level and we will certainly need to play much better against them if we are to take anything out of the game.

JOHN TAKES A TUMBLE

THERE hasn’t been too much to smile about this week but we’ve all been having a good laugh at our physio John Stannard.

I’m not sure if our supporters at the Stockport game will have noticed or not but when he came off the bench to treat Francis Laurent he tripped over the advertising board and fell onto the side of the pitch.

It’s safe to see John wasn’t a hurdler during his youth and he has been getting a lot of stick off the lads who have been watching it back on the DVD.

I think he is a bit embarrassed about it but he’s taking the banter in good spirits even though we’re trying to get it shown on Soccer AM this weekend.

THUMBS UP FOR LACK OF CELEBRATIONS

PLAYERS not celebrating against their former clubs is a talking point in the game right now but I think it’s good.

Richard Dunne, who is now with Aston Villa, didn’t celebrate when he netted against Manchester City and I thought that should a lot of respect for his old team.

He was there for many years and got a good reception from their fans so it was a nice thing for him to do.

It was the same with Carlos Tevez when he scored against West Ham and, after the Emmanuel Adebayor incident when he ran the whole length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the Arsenal fans, I think it’s been good for the game.

Saying that though I will celebrate if I score against Bristol Rovers next week!

ENGLAND GAME ONLY ON THE INTERNET

THE England game at Ukraine is available to watch only on the internet which is a sign of the times I guess.

I can’t really understand it and it seems a shame because it means less people will be watching it.

But we’ve already qualified for the World Cup now and hopefully it’s a game the players can enjoy playing in and do well again.