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Wednesday, November 12, 2008, 11:09
"We can take nothing for granted in any games at this level and the players will be told in no uncertain terms what is expected," said Iron manager Lee Patterson.
"We dropped five points in our last two home games against clubs beneath us and it's not good enough and can't happen again."
Whilst Patterson admits he may not as yet got the right balance to his side he says that technically they have some really gifted players.
"But we need them to work more collectively as a group and deliver more consistently."
The Iron manager believes he has signed the inspirational on-field leader he's been looking for in central defender Leo Roget, who although only 31, has made more than 279 Football League appearances.
Patterson said: "I think Roget will fit the bill because he's big, strong and will make himself heard and he has the experience too while out there being able to do something to change the game in our favour.
"He's a natural leader who will help the younger players and ticks all the boxes in what I was looking for.
"He's not fully match fit at present but I think he can have a huge influence on other players once he's into the pace of the games."
Louis Riddle, who was sent off in the closing moments of Iron's 1-1 home draw with Weston-Super-Mare on Saturday, cost his side a possible win and three points.
Having already been booked in the first half for persistent fouling he should have known better to be careful but a blatant late tackle gave the referee no option but to show him the red card.
Patterson was fairly blunt about the dismissal: "It was ridiculous and Louis should have known better.
"We had come back to equalise and clearly on top looking for a winning goal but he put us in the position where in the end we were lucky to get a draw.
"We played poorly but didn't get beaten but for me my expectations are a lot higher and it wasn't good enough, it's a simple as that."
The West Country visitors could have snatched a late winner but luckily for the Iron the two chances that fell their way were slightly off target.
The first half had clearly belonged to Weston who created more danger with their attacks and it was no surprise when Ryan Harvard fired the ball home from close range with the Iron defence all at sea.
Shortly after the restart Danny Hockton saw his fierce shot hit the woodwork and with Iron in the ascendancy an equaliser was forthcoming.
It only came 10 minutes from time courtesy of a Micky Shinn corner that saw Hockton stab the ball home from close range in a goalmouth melee, much to the relief of 423 home fans.
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ON THE RUN: Braintree Town's Lee Burns (left) outpaces Weston-super-Mare's Ludovic Cuisten in Saturday's Blue Square South match that ended in a 1-1 draw.
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