McCormack keen to put on a show at Salisbury (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON TOWN: McCormack keen to put on a show at Salisbury

5:50am Friday 3rd August 2012 in STFC News

DEFENDER Alan McCormack has urged the Swindon faithful not to read too much into Town’s disappointing performance against Swindon Supermarine as they prepare to put the record straight at Salisbury this evening.

Paolo Di Canio’s side were far from their best despite winning 1-0 at the Webb’s Wood Stadium on Monday night, but McCormack believes the performance was a one-off, and that Town will be back to their fluent best before the start of the season.

“I think the manager said it all after the game, because none of us will look back fondly on it because we were not at our best,” he said.

“It wasn’t good enough and we were a little bit slow and maybe we were tired, I don’t know.

“Every one of us wasn’t on our game that night and we need to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“Every player has their own reasons and their own thoughts, and we just keep going.

“We should give Supermarine credit too, because they strung five across the midfield at times and any team would struggle against that.

“Now we need to look at Friday night and prepare for that and put in a better performance.

“There is nothing to worry about, and in my eyes Monday was a one off, and we will put it right.”

The Irishman is not convinced the timing of the Supermarine game has helped the club’s preparations for the new season, but refused to use it as an excuse.

“They are not the greatest games to play in, and with respect to Supermarine that was the sort of game we want to be playing as the first game of pre-season,” he said.

“Hopefully those sort of games can be done at the beginning, because at this stage we want a really good standard to help us get ready.

“We get tested all season long, and we need to prepare for that so we can’t use it as an excuse.”

Meanwhile, Matt Ritchie believes friendlies against lower-league sides play a vital role in preparations for the new season.

Town play Salisbury tonight having previously taken on Weston-super-Mare, Forest Green and Swindon Supermarine as they prepare for an assault on League One.

While some have questioned the standard of the opposition, Ritchie is convinced the games will prove worthwhile in the long run. “It was disappointing against Supermarine but this is pre-season and you have to gel and bond together.

“I suppose we maybe took a little step back together in that game, but that is part and parcel of building the bond and the team spirit.

“I am sure we will go to Salisbury tonight and be much improved, and we will build on what we have done so far.

“Playing non-league sides is different to what we are used to, but it is good for them and good for us too. We can get fitter by playing these games and the movement is good, and we do what we need to.

“Whoever you play against you need to do your best and perform to your best, and if you don’t you can be punished.”

While Ritchie is focused on tonight’s game, he and the rest of the squad are looking forwards to testing themselves against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night.

“They are a Championship side, and if we want to be a Championship side we need to show that we can play against them,” he said.

“It should be a good game, but we have to beat Salisbury first.”