If events don't go according to plan at home to Crystal Palace tomorrow, one word of advice – don't go anywhere near City boss Peter Grant and mutter the dread phrase: 'It's only a game…' by way of consolation.
Rather than incur the wrath of Mr Baldwin, we will avoid repeating the Shankly line about life, death and football. But it clearly is a state of mind that is very close to Grant's way of thinking.
For the two weeks that have followed the 2-1 home defeat by Cardiff City have clearly been hard to bear for a man with the level of passion and intensity that Grant brings to bear on his chosen profession.
“You're desperate to play well every time you pull on a shirt; you're desperate to perform as an individual and as a group,” said the Canary manager, not one to immediately dust himself down after a defeat.
“There's nothing worse when people say that you've got to have an even keel – don't get too carried away with a big result; don't get too disappointed with a poor result. Say that you've got to stay in this sort of middle ground,” said Grant.
“I don't. Good results I stay in the middle ground – bad results you hit the floor. Because that's the way you are – there's nothing better than winning. That's what we're in the game for.
“So it's been a tough two weeks in that respect – the last game was a defeat. So we're desperate to get a result, desperate to win the game – that's the way you are.”
Defeat is never something that you can brush off that easily. For Grant, at least, it goes far deeper than that – particularly now that this is his team putting his fledgling managerial reputation on the block.
Equally you suspect that Grant brought the same sentiments to bear as a player. It would, after all, have been forged and honed in the furnace that is 'Auld Firm' football. On either side of the great Glasgow divide, football is not a laughing matter. It is far too serious for that.
“People say that you've got to put it into perspective – and life into perspective,” he said. “But when you pull on a football jersey, life isn't in perspective. You play to win and that's what we're here to do. And there's massive disappointments if you don't.
“That's why I laugh when people say: 'This game is important, that game is important…' But every game is important – because I want to win every one of them.”
All of which ensures that tomorrow's home clash with Palace is an important game – just as important as the two, back-to-back away trips to Charlton Athletic and Wolves that now follow.
Which, of course, merely adds to the list of complicating factors – for example, it remains important that City keep their squad vaguely fit and at leas half intact as a frantic spell of games looms.
How far does he push 38-year-old Dion Dublin? How far does he push Darren Huckerby's just-recovered groin?
The latter is expected to make his first Championship start of the season after only arriving off the bench against Cardiff. There was, however, still a wariness to Grant's thinking at Colney yesterday.
“He's been training great; looking great – but like I said, he's been out since May 7,” said the City chief.
“But then the way that Darren plays, he plays in bursts so sometimes you can get away with that. And if I wanted to start him tomorrow, I'd have no problems with that.”
The 'but…' was never said. But Grant cannot afford to lose him again – not with Jimmy Smith, in particular, still well away from a return. Even then, the on-loan Chelsea starlet has yet to prove exactly what he adds to the party. Huckerby's electric pace it won't be.
At the other end, the manager has similar dilemmas revolving around Jason Shackell's ankle ligament injury. The feeling is he'll play. At least there Grant no has the services of ex-Rangers star Ian Murray to call on.
“Ian played the other night in the middle just to get his legs going and he played very, very well in there – especially second period. That's where his natural position is,” said Grant, employing the one-time Hibs skipper in a central midfield role away at MK Dons Reserves on Monday night in a bid to blow that Spotland illness out of his system.
“He's now got a clean bill of health. He's ready to play and it is something I will look at – he's mobile; he's played there; good left foot on him; he's intelligent; he's a good competitor. So I'd have no qualms in playing him there.
“And with the games coming in quick succession I've got to watch with Dion as well.
“I want to utilise Dion at both ends of the field – other boys are more mobile up front, but Dion gives you something completely different,” said Grant, with goals being one thing the 38-year-old still adds to the brew.
“And I don't want to be taking that away from the team. So having Ian available if Shacks is not available is a big plus for us.”
An even bigger plus would be a resounding home success – to wipe out the memory of events a fortnight ago and that 2-1 defeat by a fairly lame Bluebirds side.
“We know that the season has just started and that it was disappointing the way that we lost the last game. And we're still to perform to anywhere near what I think we're capable of – anywhere near,” said Grant, laying a firm challenge at his players' feet.
“So there's a lot of positive things that have got to happen now. Let's go and show people what you can do – as individuals. Go and show people that you can do your individual job well.
“That's what I keep saying – do the basics well and everything else looks after itself.”
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