It's never nice to hear yourself being criticised by the manager, as I was before the last home game against Milton Keynes Dons, especially when you are the captain of the team.

I hadn't been playing well, I knew that. It was an awful team display against Northwich Victoria the previous weekend, when we were knocked out of the FA Cup and it was one of the worst performances of my career.

It was, therefore, great to put things right against MK Dons on Saturday and play a full role in a good display.

One of the good things about Phil Parkinson is that he'll never say something in public that he hasn't already told you in person.

We had a chat during the week. He told me he was resting me for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy game against Southampton but to be ready for the weekend.

He said he expected a lot from me and that I hadn't been living up to those expectations. I knew it was true but it still wasn't nice to hear, particularly as I'm the one wearing the armband and feel it' up to me to lead by example. I was determined to put things right.

There is always criticism in football, from fans, journalists, the manager and so on. You just have to take the comments on board, work out which matter the most - usually those by the manager! - and do something about it.

You have to take it on the chin and hopefully it makes you perform better in the next game.

I'm not sure whether the criticism played a direct part in the improved performance by me and the team. I was asked by the press after the game whether it was one of my best ever games, which was going slightly over the top.

The important thing is that we bounced back from a setback. We worked hard and, despite going a goal down, showed good character to recover and win well.

It's not about one result, though. We must do it again at Yeovil on Saturday and at home to Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night and put a run together.

It didn't take the media long to ask me about playing in central midfield, either.

I've previously made it clear that central midfield is my preferred position because I feel more involved in the game and things went well on Saturday.

But I've been doing a job out on the left for the manager and I'll do anything they ask me to do.

Hopefully I've showed what I can do and hopefully I'll stay there for a few more games but ultimately, the team comes first.