City striker Jamie Cureton is setting his sights rather higher than merely nicking a point from Tuesday night's trip to Bloomfield Road.
Fresh from bagging that all-important second in yesterday's potentially crucial 2-0 win over Coventry City, the 32-year-old frontman was clearly hoping that a big corner had been turned – that Glenn Roeder's first home win could be followed 72-hours later by a first away win over struggling Blackpool.
“I think we've got to go there and try and win the game,” said Cureton, the fire in his eyes rekindled.
“Beginning of the season we would have been expecting to go to Blackpool and win and I can't see any reason now why we shouldn't. We've looked around the changing room and said: 'Look around… We've got a quality squad…'
“We're in a bad situation but we've got a good enough team to get out of it,” he added, well aware of the galvanising effect back-to-back wins would have.
“I think we've got to go there nice and positive and try and win again. You get back-to-back wins and all of a sudden it starts to change a bit. And that's what we need.”
Suddenly that four points gap to safety becomes, say, two. That goal difference improves and, bit by bit, the chink of light at the end of the tunnel grows.
“Out of it by New Year,” was Cureton's own escape timetable. “We've got a lot of games; it's a massive period; a lot at home, as well. So I think if not out of it, we'd like to be within touching distance of everyone.
“And I think that if we win the majority of them then we will be.”
It was noticeable again that it was Cureton who lingered the longest at the final whistle; it was Cureton who walked on his own back towards the Barclay to give them his personal vote of thanks. There is a bond between the two.
“They've been brilliant all season,” said Cureton. “And as I've always said, they deserve a lot more. And it's just pleasing that we've given them a win today and they can go out and have a few drinks and celebrate a bit.”
It won't, he warned,be the last time that the players will need to call upon their support. “They're going to play a vital part at home.
“It's a massive thing – there's not many teams that will come here and relish playing in an atmosphere like that. But we have to get them going; we have to keep performing; we have to tackle; run; chase. And then they will back us.
“We've done that today and, hopefully, we can both, together, take us out of this trouble.”
As for the difference two weeks have made, Cureton's thoughts settled on a far more complete Canary performance. One that – if still far from perfect – had a little bot of everything going on.
“I think today you just got an all-round performance,” said Cureton, as Roeder's new regime starts – and only starts – to develop a little momentum. No hard on a run of two points from the last 33.
“And I think there was a bit more determination about the place,” added City's top-scorer, with Roeder himself revealing earlier that he had shown the players a short motivational video on Friday of the world's greatest players throwing their bodies at the ball – that the stars of the game still put in a challenge.
It clearly made an impression.
“The manager asked us to put our bodies on the line and I think everyone's done that today – there were challenges flying in and we really stood up to them. They're a physical team and I think we stood up to that.
“And after that we feel that we've got a lot in the locker going the other way,” said Cureton, seeing a City side that for once mixed it – that if Coventry wanted to scrap, they'd scrap. That if Coventry wanted to play, they'd play.
“I think you've seen a bit of both today. There was a lot of good passing movements going on, but I'd probably say that the physical side of it gave us that edge today. And I think the fans appreciate what people are doing.
“And obviously we got the goals at the right time and won the game.”
Cureton's sixth of the season 13 minutes from the end was the easiest thus far after the on-loan Matty Pattison had teed him up perfectly with a first-time, left-foot cross. With the deft lob against Ipswich still fresh in the memory, it's two in two home games from the Championship's 'Golden Boot' holder – still six short of overhauling the suspended Michael Mifsud from the top of the goal-scoring tree.
“Like I said, I'm confident that if chances come my way I'll take them. But it's nice for me if I can get on a run of goals and, hopefully, that will help the team out,” said Cureton. “So, yes, I've got two in three now and I'm pleased.”
Certainly the presence of 38-year-old Dion Dublin at his side helped. Back from his hamstring trouble, the long-time Coventry hero made his presence felt in typical fashion – vocally, at least, he remains a class apart.
“I think it helps having someone like Dion back – I think it helps the team out. He's an experienced player; he's very vocal; he helps everyone out.
“And for me? Definitely – he's a good player. Typical sort of player that I've enjoyed playing with throughout my career, so yes – I think it's good to have him back. Good to have him around the place.”
Ched Evans' arrival is another one to ponder. Suddenly Cureton needs to be back among the goals now that he has the on-loan 18-year-old snapping at his heels. It wass Chris Brown that kept both Chris Martin and David Strihavka off the bench altogether.
“There's six strikers now – the manager's brought people in and he wants pressure on everyone, so no-one's position is safe. We all have to go out there and perform – and make sure that he keeps picking us,” said Cureton.
“You either want to be in the team – or you don't. And if you don't then the manager will do stuff about that. The 11 that he's picked basically want to stay in it, so we have to perform like that every week.
“And we know that if we drop below that, there's people that are going to come in and take our places.”
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