JIM Magilton has urged his players to adopt a Phil Neville type mentality in order to find the consistency they crave.Magilton is torn between tinkering with his starting XI to bring in Sylvain Legwinski after Tuesday's Carling Cup defeat, or keep faith with the same team that beat Sheffield Wednesday so convincingly.

By Derek Davis

JIM Magilton has urged his players to adopt a Phil Neville type mentality in order to find the consistency they crave.

Magilton is torn between tinkering with his starting XI to bring in Sylvain Legwinski after Tuesday's Carling Cup defeat, or keep faith with the same team that beat Sheffield Wednesday so convincingly.

Town were as disappointing at MK Dons as they were praiseworthy three days earlier and Magilton put it down to the players' mental approach.

He said: “I'm tempted to change the side after Tuesday but we will see how they are after training.

“We wanted to keep on rolling after Saturday but for MK Dons it was almost the cup final to play against a Championship side like us, because that is where they want to be - in the Championship.

“There were a lot of circumstances to us losing the game but with the players we have it was a game we should have won.

“When I say about the level of player we have I mean it is simply that they can't switch off and think they can tap straight into where they left off on Saturday.”

Magilton pointed to Everton's Neville, who played down his side's great start to the season by immediately planning for the next match, as an example of getting into the right frame of mind.

Neville said he would be avoiding the shops, putting his feet up after training and letting the wife walk the dog as he rested properly between games.

Magilton said: “To be a top player you have to be able to do it day-in day-out, week-in week-out.

“Look at Phil Neville after the Everton game and what he planned to do.

“That is why he has won 50 or so caps for England and won so much with Manchester United. It is because his structure is that once one game is finished he is looking to the next and preparing properly.

“We don't want clones but we want professional people who can churn out result after result.”

Magilton is hoping his side can rekindle the spirit and performance that gave them an opening day three points and earned a point at Home Park last year.

He said: “We looked fit and sharp on Saturday and ready to do the nasty side of the game and they didn't on Tuesday.

“If we go to Plymouth like that again then we will be in trouble.

“Ian Holloway's sides are always committed and play with determination and passion which replicates him to a large extent and we need to at least match that.

“They are very strong and to me are an under-rated side. Last year when we played them I felt they were as good as any side we had played.

“We showed a great resilience there last year and got a good result.”

Town are set to name the same 18-man squad as they have in the past two games, with Danny Haynes available even though he was sent off in the reserves game, as his three-match ban starts after the televised match against Crystal Palace, on August 26.