Blues boss Paul Hurst says he wants to see a more positive approach from his players, believing that they sometimes seem a little “fearful” and that there may be a “little bit of a hangover” from last season. Town visit the MK Dons for their penultimate pre-season friendly this evening (KO 7.45pm).
Hurst, who feels his squad needs augmenting, Bristol Rovers striker Ellis Harrison having become his fourth addition last night, says he can’t criticise the players’ endeavour but feels they need to be more forward-thinking.
"I don’t think I have to send that message out, I think the fans can see that the players do need some help, as I said on Tuesday, and nothing’s changed since then, they need some competition.
"The group are working hard, there’s no doubt about that. I can’t fault their attitudes, I just think there’s still perhaps a little bit of a hangover from what they’ve been used to, things like that.
"We’re trying to change a bit, perhaps, the mentality around the group, which takes time, but we want them to be a little bit more positive in everything that they do and I think that sometimes they look almost a little bit fearful.
"I look at our wide players on some occasions, they do something good and then they turn back towards their own goal, and I don’t understand why because I’m never going to shout at them for driving at the defender and taking people on.
"I want to be sat on the side or stood on the side whatever it may be excited because there are little moments in games when you turn into a fan and then you have to remember what job you’ve got and get things right.
"But that’s what fans want to see, the closing down. I thought we did it OK at times, Jordan Roberts had an opportunity in the first half [at Barnet] which just flashed past the post, which was exactly what we’re looking for; people on the front foot.
"Sometimes we still seem a little bit cautious to really go all out. If they get past us, they get past us, then we have to work hard to get back.
"And in possession, like I said, just be a little bit more positive. And again, we’ve just had a good chat about that and hopefully they’re very clear about what we want and it’s not a case of digging them out, that’s not what that’s about, it’s just about everyone understanding exactly what we’re after and enjoying their football.”
Hurst is likely to take the same approach tonight as he has in the last two friendlies with most of his senior players - Harrison probably among them - used from the start and a handful of youngsters coming off the bench in the second half.