MATT GLENNON signed a new contract believing Town can challenge for the Championship this season.

And in the intervening three months, nothing has happened to change his mind.

The experienced goalkeeper was delighted to keep a clean sheet as Town breezed past Bradford City into the second round of the Carling Cup on Tuesday.

But he was doubly disappointed by the 1-1 home draw with Stockport County which opened the League I campaign seven days ago.

The main blow was that the team failed to win, and the second that he couldn’t shut out the visitors.

But the 29-year-old, who at least denied his hometown club victory with a late save from Carl Baker which boss Stan Ternent described as "breathtaking", was still able to pluck some positives from the performance.

"Like the manager said, we didn’t hit the standards we had set in the friendlies against Sheffield United and Arsenal," said Glennon, who rejected offers from other clubs to agree a two-year contract (with the option of a further 12 months) in May.

"But it’s still early days, and it was obvious that as a team, we are still in the gelling process.

"We were up against a good side with fewer new faces and who were going into the game with some momentum after winning promotion last season under a manager (Jim Gannon) who has been there for a while.

"We had six new players (left-back David Unsworth, centre-backs Chris Lucketti and Andy Butler and midfielders Michael Flynn, Jim Goodwin and Gary Roberts) in the starting side, and Keigan Parker on the bench, and we had just five-and-a-half weeks’ work completed under Stan Ternent.

"And several of the new players have been at the club for a shorter time than that, so in terms of working together, it’s not been long at all.

"We will get fitter and get to know each other far better, and that will become evident on the pitch, I’m certain of that."

Stockport-born Glennon believes Town are better set up to win promotion than at any stage since he joined from St Johnstone in 2006.

"We’ve got a very experienced manager who is building a strong squad," he explained.

"The gaffer has a great record of winning promotions, so he knows what it takes.

"He, Ronnie Jepson and Mick Docherty make a great team, and training is tough but enjoyable.

"Stan is very organised in everything he does, from training to preparing for matches and supplying information about opposing sides.

"Stockport set up as he predicted they would do, and it’s just unfortunate we didn’t really get to grips with that.

"But we’ll take the lessons on board and it’s important to remember that we didn’t actually lose the game.

"We gave away a goal in first-half stoppage time, which was really frustrating, and had we got to half-time in front, I think that with the opportunity for some reorganisation, we’d have kept the lead."

Glennon hailed Andy Booth’s 30th-minute opener, headed home from a Roberts corner, saying: "It was a text-book Boothy goal.

"If Robbo can keep providing that kind of service, there should be more to come because the delivery was meat and drink to Boothy."

And the stopper is also delighted at the arrival of former England international and Everton defender Unsworth on a one-year deal.

"His pedigree is superb, he’s in good nick and he’s a huge bloke, one I’d rather be playing with than against," he said.

"In previous seasons the squad has been a bit thin, so when we’ve had injuries and suspensions, they have had a big effect.

"This time we have a bigger squad with solid cover in a number of positions."