Rock bottom (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Rock bottom

ROCK bottom Town's new boss insists 'the only way is up' with Iffy Onuora confident he has the right characters to begin the long haul away from the darkest depths of League One.

He has not even been in the job 48 hours and the County Ground supremo is already facing up to the prospect of a six-pointer on Saturday as well as injury and suspension headaches.

Onuora's managerial career began with a 1-0 defeat at Doncaster Rovers last night, a result which leaves Town propping up League One.

It is something of a baptism of fire for Onuora with Town now facing a massive six-pointer at M K Dons on Saturday.

Defeat could potentially leave Town five points adrift and Jerel Ifil's dismissal last night and a three-match ban for Andy Gurney imposed by the FA yesterday will hardly aid preparations.

Add to that injuries to Stefani Miglioranzi, Gareth Whalley and Steve Jenkins and you could be forgiven for thinking Onuora is wondering what he's let himself in for. Nothing could be further from the truth. The gaffer is positively brimming with positivity.

He said: "I like a challenge and I'm ready to face it head on.

"We wanted to stop the rot but you take the positives from the situation. I said to the lads before the game that if they gave me absolutely everything they had and didn't leave anything on the pitch then I'd be happy. I feel proud of the lads. They couldn't give me any more.

"If they give that every week, we'll be okay.

"Yes, we lacked a little bit of quality in the final third and the final ball but I've seen enough out there in terms of the qualities you need to get up the table.

"At the moment we're willing it to go in a little bit, we need the boost of a goal. But I still feel there's goals in the team."

While he is an optimist, Onuora is also a realist and a glance at the league table doesn't make for happy reading.

He said: "Unfortunately that's football. The only way is up now. M K Dons is a massive game on Saturday. I've told the lads it's the proverbial six-pointer. We need to go there and get something."

The travelling Town fans gave Onuora a warm welcome in his new capacity and the manager hopes they will have something to really cheer sooner rather than later.

Of his positive reception, he said: "We're appreciative of the support and I hope they've seen enough there to make them come back on Saturday and from then on."

Striker Rory Fallon said: "It's just not happening at the moment.

"It's always one goal with us and we've got to stop that one goal.

"The luck's just not going our way. That's the way it is at the bottom.

"Now we have to roll our sleeves up and go again."