Midfielder on need to back up first away win since October against Accrington
Midfielder Simon Walton was delighted to return to his former club Stevenage on Saturday and help Reds pick up three vital League 2 points.
And he has challenged the squad to build on our first away win since October by getting another at Accrington Stanley on Saturday.
“It was a massive three points for us,” he said. “We played poorly against Mansfield and there had to be a reaction.
“It wasn’t a classic because of the conditions – sticky pitch and very windy but you have to deal with that and I thought we did. Paul Jones made a couple of saved but I thought the lads in front of him gave him good protection.”
Reds employed a 3-5-2 formation on Saturday and it was a success, according to Simon.
“The back three, back five, midfield and two up front worked really hard and [Paul] Jones has come in and kept a clean sheet so we are happy,” he added. “We didn’t expect an easy game and it wasn’t but we dug it out and defended well.
“We tried it at Yeovil and obviously it didn’t work that well for us there but on Saturday the performance was better maybe because the desire and work-rate was there that wasn’t there before.
“The wing backs in that system make it and I thought Roarie Deacon and Bobson Bawling were tremendous, as were the three centre-halves. As a five and with the keeper, they were solid. Everyone really deserved the clean sheet - I don’t think anyone can argue that.”
Reds lost 3-0 to Accrington in September after losing Luke Rooney to a red card just before the break.
“They are a good side but that day not a lot went for us,” said Simon. “If we can produce a similar sort of performance to Stevenage then we can go there and get a result.”
By then the club’s proposed takeover may also have been completed, although Simon insists the players are just concentrating on events they can control – on the pitch.
“The gaffer and Dacky have done really well to keep us informed about what is happening but at the end of the day we are paid by whoever is there to put in a performance on the pitch," he added.
“They need to take a lot of credit for who they have dealt with us. We have been treated the right way and it was nice to repay them because they deserved that win.”
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