Kettering Town boss Cox impressed with Stephens' attitude

Paul Cox felt Ben Stephens epitomised what he wants from his Kettering Town players during the goalless draw with AFC Telford United.

Stephens made an early appearance from the substitutes’ bench after captain Luke Graham was withdrawn due to problems with his vision.

Midfielder Stephens returned to Latimer Park just before the start of the Vanarama National League North season and, just recently, has had to settle for a place on the bench.

But Cox was impressed with the way he performed when called upon and warned all his players that he doesn’t have much time for ‘sulkers’.

“It wasn’t Ben Stephens’ kind of pitch to be honest and he has been a bit down in the dumps because he hasn’t been playing recently,” the Poppies boss said.

“I thought he came on and applied himself excellently and that’s what I want.

“I have told the boys I don’t like sulkers. Don’t sulk because I won’t respect you. I want them to come at me in the right way.

“I thought Stevo did that. He came at me and he put in a really good performance on a pitch where he could easily shrug his shoulders and say ‘this is not my game gaffer’.

“That’s what we want, we want a club full of playing who are fighting and champing at the bit to help take us forward.”

The Poppies are now turning their attention to the Buildbase FA Trophy.

They host Nuneaton Borough in the second round on Tuesday night with the winners then going on to a trip to either Ashton United or York City next Saturday.

And while he concedes the league is his priority, Cox insists he won’t short change the supporters by making wholesale changes.

“It’s a football match and anyone who knows me knows I want to win football matches,” he said.

“I don’t want anyone at the club to ever think that we can be arrogant enough to discount certain games. I think that leads to a sloppy mindset.

“We need to check the players because we aren’t blessed with unlimited resources and I will put the best team out that I think can win the game.

“If the best 11 is fit and strong then it will play on the night. I wouldn’t do our supporters a disservice.

“My priority is the league. We have to look at progressing and being as competitive as we can but the FA Trophy is a nice distraction and we will be approaching it right.

“It will be a tough game but, like any game, I want us to try to set our marker and we are hoping to do that against Nuneaton.”