AFTER a couple of disappointing away results it is good to come back to home turf against Peterborough this afternoon.

They had a fantastic result in midweek against Millwall to underline how dangerous they can be.

But we have not enjoyed the experience of losing two on the trot and are fiercely determined to put it right today.

Other than a really good win at Birmingham in the EFL Cup we have not quite been able to find that spark so far.

After the game at Fleetwood on Wednesday, we talked for some time about the need to get the basics right, and the most fundamental thing is to keep a clean sheet.

Do that and you cannot lose a game of football, it is as simple as that.

It is something we have not managed in three league games, so we will look to make up for that first and foremost.

We have not been helped by the injury to Christian Ribeiro on the eve of the season or a couple of niggling injuries to Chey Dunkley, Aaron Martin and Curtis Nelson.

We have had a different two out of those three in each game.

Add in the suspension to Sam Long and you start to see some of the problems that have hindered us at the back so far.

There is no point moaning about it, we just roll up our sleeves and get on with things.

Miles Welch-Hayes came in and did well on his debut on Wednesday and is the latest in a series of exciting young players coming through at the club.

We are pleased to strengthen the squad with the signing of Phil Edwards on a season long loan from Burton.

He will provide valuable experience in our back line.

We took another important step forward this week when the club started recruiting for a ‘PreAcademy’ for six to eight-year-olds.

We are also announcing new scouts to watch more local football.

That has to be the way forward for a club like ours, although it does make me feel slightly old to think about a scheme that is going to take at least ten years to bear fruit!

You never know, some of those kids might be with us in the stands this afternoon and dreaming of playing for the first team.

Hopefully they will be inspired by a first league win.

If we can just be a little more ruthless in both penalty areas and just a touch more careful in delivering the final pass then we know we are more than capable of getting three points on the board.

IT is Flag Day at the club this afternoon and we are expecting another good crowd, although we know there will be one familiar face missing.

The Oxford Mail’s Dave Pritchard got married yesterday.

I expect he has given a very good reason to his bosses for his wedding being during the football season!

‘Pritch’ has covered just about every game since I have been here – although he sometimes seems to see a different game to me!

The relationship we have with the Oxford Mail is as good as any I have known between a club and its local paper.

We wish Dave and his new wife, Florence, the very best of luck for the future.