RADCLIFFE Borough manager Bill Prendergast cannot wait to get his players back into training for a “reboot” after Tuesday night’s 6-2 defeat at Buxton in the Integro League Cup.

The Taurus Park outfit have blown hot and cold in November – winning two, losing two and drawing one.

They showed great battling qualities to twice come from behind to earn a point in a 2-2 draw at Colne in Evo-Stik League First Division North on Saturday.

But Prendergast said that spirit was sadly lacking in the midweek cup debacle, and he is eager to put that right on the training field.

“A shock defeat is a great opportunity for us to take stock of where we are at,” said the Boro boss, who has a degree in sports psychology.

“The first training session after a big loss is a chance for us to reboot.

“When you are picking up points and results, things can drift along a bit and it takes a performance like that to bring everyone back together and on message.

“Those training sessions are absolutely instrumental in getting across what we are trying to do here and I can’t wait to get in amongst the lads and thrash it out.”

Prendergast admits he used the League Cup as a chance to take a look at some of his fringe players.

What he saw will not have pleased the manager. His side crumbled after conceding two quick goals midway through the opening half and while Elliot Rokka scored twice after the break they were never really in the tie.

“I can’t lie, we were awful,” Prendergast said.

“Yes, I used the tie to take a look at my squad, but we still expected to be competitive.

“For the opening 20 minutes I thought we played some good stuff, but after conceding our heads dropped and I am very disappointed with the manner of the defeat.

“We did not play on the front foot, like we have been doing all season.

“It was a car crash of a performance. It was awful, but we will analyse it and I expect to see a different performance when we travel to Ossett Town on Saturday.”

Boro will be without Abou Sonogo, who was sent off in the closing stages of Saturday’s draw at Colne.

The mercurial striker will be missing for four matches following his second red card of the season.

Sonogo was dropped for a handful of games after his last indiscretion and looks set to spend an extended time on the sidelines again.

“We have a strict club policy when it comes to discipline,” said the Boro boss.

“I have spoken with Abou. He knows what is expected of him and he will have a bit of time in training now to get his head right and think about his football.”

As well as Saturday’s trip to fourth-placed Ossett, Boro host Colne on Tuesday in a match abandoned earlier this month when goalkeeper Matty Johnson suffered a serious leg injury.