Bounce back (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Bounce back

IFFY Onuora is backing Tom Heaton to bounce back all the stronger for his Bescot blunder and the goalkeeper himself is confident that a philosophical approach to triumph and disaster will reap its rewards.

The 19-year-old was at fault for Walsall's winner on Saturday, yet coach Onuora said Heaton had to focus on the overwhelming number of positives he has enjoyed rather than a single 'negative'.

Onuora said: "He's held up his hands in the dressing room.

"Since joining us he's done better than just be steady, he's done exceptionally well at times.

"You feel for the kid.

"He's disappointed but hopefully he'll have that mentality to bounce back. It's a one-off and you just hope it doesn't affect him.

"It shouldn't because there are far, far more plusses than negatives are far as Tom is concerned.

"He's a great kid and he'll be a good keeper."

Heaton himself, although disappointed, looks like heeding Onuora's advice.

He accepts that the flip side of praise is criticism. The trick is not to get carried away by either.

He said: "Unfortunately this is part of football.

"The lows are never too low and the highs are never too high.

"You have to keep things in balance. I'll move on and I will get better."

As for Town's failure to secure any points from their last two outings, Onuora said: "It's just that ruthlessness, that end product.

"I thought we passed with a purpose at time but how many times did we get wide and put real good quality in?"

A growing problem for Town though is injuries, although it is coaching staff rather than players on the treatment table.

Alan Reeves is recovering from a broken leg while manager Andy King was only able to attend Saturday's defeat with the aid of crutches.

He has been hit with a dose of either septic arthritis or gout in his right foot, the precise ailment is not yet clear.

Physio Dick Mackey said: "The two things are quite similar and it is an extremely painful condition."

Onuora is desperate to ensure that the injury list doesn't get any worse.

He joked: "We're down to the bare bones in the staff. Like royalty, me and Ian Woan can't travel in the same car any more.

"Just in case anything happens to us."