DARREN BYFIELD says his Redditch United owe their supporters a dazzling performance when they return to action tomorrow (Saturday).
The Reds’ last outing ended with a 4-0 home drubbing two weeks ago as Slough Town proved party-poopers for the first senior match on Redditch’s new artificial pitch.
Boss Byfield says the enforced break, a result of their FA Cup exit, has allowed the squad to work on parts of their game which they can put into practice when they face Frome Town at the Valley Stadium.
“I‘m really looking forward to Saturday, to seeing the team get back out on the pitch,” said Byfield. “We owe the fans after our last game against Slough. We owe them a performance.
“I don’t necessarily mean a win but I want the fans to come away at 5pm, whatever the result, thinking that we’ve put on a good display and thinking that if Redditch play like that every week we will win more than we lose.
“We did let people down against Slough, myself, the players and we’ve got to put it right.
“We’ve had the chance to work on things in the last couple of weeks, and ask questions of how we’ve done so far and what we need to do to improve.”
Byfield says the break has enabled the squad time to reflect on the first eight weeks of the Southern Premier Division season.
The Reds have won four out of nine league games, and occupy 12th place, four points off the play-offs places and four points above the bottom four.
“We’ve been up and down but that’s to be expected because it’s a new team,” said Byfield.
“We’ve played ten games now, nine in the league and one in the FA Cup, and I can’t complain about where we are at the minute. It can be much better, we know that, and we are all learning and working harder to improve.
“The players have been brilliant. I’ve filled their heads with so much information but now they are starting to get to grips with how I want to play.”
Byfield has been on the look-out to add to his squad but he admits he will have to be patient to get the players he wants.
And for all the highs and lows in his first two months as a manager the former Aston Villa and Walsall striker, in his first role as boss, is not about to complain.
“It’s a learning curve for me as a manager but I’m loving it,” said Byfield. “The best part is trying to work and improve the players and really there is no worst part.
“I can’t wait for Saturday.”