United 3 Northampton 0
After a superb start to the season Bucks spoke to the assembled press and gave his thoughts on the 3-0 home win over Northampton: ''This is a brilliant start for us, we have carried on where we left off last season and the clean sheet was really pleasing as well. To score three goals against what I must say is a very good Northampton team leaves us delighted.
''It was a typical first game of the season, a bit nervy and a bit edgy and I thought Northampton started quite well and were very physical but we had to match that. Once we got to grips with that we did well, we scored a lovely goal before half-time on the counter attack and it was a great finish from Nicholson. From that moment on we went from strength to strength although they did have period during the second half which every team has but we were resilient and we could maybe have scored another couple of goals on the counter attack.
Paul was asked if he knew why Kevin Nicholson was in such an advanced position when he scored the game's opening goal: ''I haven't got a clue what Kevin was doing that far up the pitch, he's getting so much stick in the changing room, I think he must have been on a bungee rope or something! It was a great finish, Kevin is a big favourite with the fans, the supporters love him and I loved him today.
''We nicked the ball off Northampton in dangerous areas for the other two goals, both Elliot and Zebs produced good finishes and it was a great ball from Mansell to set up Elliot's goal. We moved the ball very quickly at times, it was sometimes difficult to see who had done what but it was exciting. There was a buzz about the place and this is a very good start for us. We will enjoy tonight but we must now focus on Reading on Wednesday night. We have picked up a couple of injuries which is disappointing but then others will have to come in and they deserve a chance. Martin Gritton has a nasty gash on his knee, he tried to carry on with it but we had to take him off. We will look at it again on Monday; if we have to make changes I'm not worried because I feel at the moment the whole squad will give me a performance.
After a promising preseason campaign Bucks was under no illusions as to the tough selection decisions he had to make including the choice to leave out new signing Billy Kee from the starting XI: ''It was very difficult to leave someone like Billy Kee out of the team today, there is a real togetherness around the place, I'm very close to the players and it hurts me as much as it does them when I have to tell someone that they aren't starting. I told Billy yesterday and he turned to me and said 'I know I will get on and I will score goals'. He is a fantastic addition to the squad, we looked dangerous with the starting front line and we looked dangerous with the finishing front line.
''All-in-all this has been a very good day.''
