IT goes without saying that we need to get back on track when we play Exeter City at Roots Hall this weekend.

We head in to the game on the back of two defeats but I view both of those games quite differently.

I think most fans who were at the Morecambe game, which we lost 1-0, will agree we should have won and we would’ve done if we had been able to take the chances that came our way.

But Saturday at Luton was completely different and I think it was our worst display of the season so far.

The first half was particularly poor and although the second 45 minutes was a little bit better I thought we went too direct too early and that disappointed me.

It’s something I’ve been telling the players to avoid doing again and we had an excellent game at Ipswich on Tuesday which was also of huge benefit for us.

Will Atkinson scored both of our goals on his birthday and I think his relief was there for everyone to see as soon as he got his first of the afternoon.

His second goal came about five or six minutes later and I’m sure he will be looking to kick on from there.

Michael Timlin also did well on his return from a dislocated elbow and he showed fantastic fitness levels to play around 75 minutes.

In an ideal world I would like Tims to maybe have another run out in a development game.

But sometimes it’s a case of needs must.

Tims is desperate to be playing again and he’s been a real nuisance in the treatment room because of that!

And I would definitely much prefer him to be a nuisance to our opposition.

GLAD BOLTON WANDERERS SPECULATION HAS ENDED

I HAVE to say I’m glad that the speculation regarding my future has now ended after Neil Lennon was given the job at Bolton Wanderers.

I said all along in the Echo that I’d had no contact with Bolton but people like to try and read things in to situations like that.

It can get into people’s minds, including our own players and it can also affect their focus.

It certainly didn’t affect me and it certainly wasn’t a reason for our defeat at Luton.

It was a moment of magic and a mistake which caused us to suffer the defeat.

NEARLY TIME TO MAKE A DECISION ON MAMADY SIDIBE

MAMADY Sidibe is with us this week and played the final 30 minutes of our game at Ipswich.

Mamady is somebody who I enquired about at the end of last season but he decided to join CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria.

I think there’s been a few financial problems and he wasn’t getting paid so he’s been made available again.

We have an agent who keeps us up to date with players who are playing abroad and Mamady asked if he could come in on trial.

He hasn’t played any football for five or six months it goes without saying he’s going to be a little bit rusty.

Mamady is a good lad, he’s a solid character and I have to say I like him.

But we will be making a decision on him tomorrow and deciding whether or not to extend his trial or where we go from here.

FANTASTIC WEEK FOR THE HOME NATIONS

IT’S been a fantastic week for the home nations in the European Championships qualifiers and I’ve been delighted by the results.

England weren’t at their best when beating Estonia but they got the win and that’s all that matters.

Gordon Strachan also seems to have been a revelation with Scotland, while Michael O’Neill is also doing a great job with Northern Ireland.

Likewise Martin O’Neill is doing well, along with Roy Keane, with the Republic of Ireland and it would be great to see as many of the home nations qualify as possible.

MOUNTAIN BEING MADE OUT OF A MOLE HILL CONCERNING RAHEEM STERLING

THERE have been plenty of headlines concerning Raheem Sterling and him saying he was too tired to play for England.

But for me I think a mountain is being made out of a mole hill.

The most important thing is doing whatever is best for the development of a very young and exciting player.

And I certainly don’t see it as a club against country type of argument.

With that in mind, I’ve also read this week that the likes of Sterling, Luke Shaw, Jack Wilshere and Calum Chambers should be played in the under 21 team for the European Championships.

But once you’re at a certain level for the England team I don’t think you should drop back down to play for any of the younger age-groups.