Manager Keith Curle spoke about the recent good run of form shown by striker Richie Bennett which saw him add an assist on Saturday to his Barnet goal from last Tuesday night.
“I had a conversation with Richie ten days ago and I told him the importance I personally put on him,” Curle explained. “I spent the club’s money on bringing him here so we both have a responsibility within that. Being a league player comes with its own responsibility and I felt I needed to realign his focus.
“The last person we bought was Charlie Wyke and he went on to ply his trade at a higher level. That’s what we’re looking for and trying to bring to the club, and that’s the level we want from Richie.”
“He showed glimpses on Tuesday night and again at Yeovil of why we have faith and belief in him,” he added. “It’s been a massive step for the lad, but he’s enjoying the challenge and he’s getting a better understanding of what’s required.
“He’d emptied the tank when he came off at the weekend because he’d led the line very well. There’s still more to come from him but he’s working hard and he’s improving as each game goes by because of it.”
Having secured three victories in a row, the United boss insisted he wasn’t going to allow anyone to get carried away just yet.
“To be honest, I’d rather be top of the table,” he commented. “It’s a case of keeping the belief and keeping the standards high. If we maintain the standards I know that more and more people will back us.
“The important thing is that people don’t get off the bus when results go against us. We’ve had some frustrations and disappointments this season, but the pleasing thing is that the dressing room has stuck with it, even though some harsh realities have been spoken as we try to make sure we’re getting the best out of everybody.”
Next up for the Blues is the visit of Grimsby Town on Saturday.
“This is another opportunity for the fans to get behind us and we’ll do our best to give them a performance worthy of their support,” he told us. “A lot of those here today [Yeovil] will have travelled on Tuesday as well, and that shows real commitment.
“The players appreciate that and we all respect the support they give us. If we can continue the form then we’re going to be sending people home smiling, and that’s all we ever want to achieve.
“It doesn’t always go our way, but you can be assured that we’re doing everything we can to get positive results for this football club.”
And on the players absent at the weekend, he said: “Tom Miller is two or three weeks away and Kelvin Etuhu is six or seven weeks away.
“We know about the longer-term lads already, but the players who have slight niggles are in and working when others are having a day off. That shows the professional element that’s required and it shows that the dressing room is behind everything we’re trying to do.”
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