City captain Mark Fotheringham yesterday revealed that the Canary squad are “up for it” and ready to secure the points that will ensure their Championship survival.
The heartbreaking 2-1 defeat against Bristol City at the weekend, coupled with last night's 1-1 draw between Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry, means that Glenn Roeder's men sit just three points ahead of Southampton in the final relegation spot.
There will be some frayed nerves between now and the end of the season, of that there is no doubt, but the man they call Fozzy believes they just need to turn their recent impressive performances into wins. Starting this Saturday against Burnley?
“All the players are up for it,” said Fotheringham, speaking before yesterday's Easter autograph signing session in the City.
“The way we have been training over the last month and a half has been unbelievable. If you come up to the training ground and see the tempo ? and it's the guys who have come in on loan as well ? you'll see that it is different class.
“We just need to keep taking that into the games and I'm sure we'll get these points. It is all in our hands; if we look back to the stage when we were sitting there on eight points, it didn't look too well.
“But Glenn has come in and turned it around. If you would have given us this opportunity back then, every single one of the players would have bit your hand off.
“We're in the driving seat and with the performances we've been putting in, we are showing that the confidence is there. We're playing some fantastic football at the moment and the fans must be enjoying it.
“But at the same time, we've been disappointed that we have not been getting the results. We just need to keep on going.”
As for that Ashton Gate defeat, the worry must be that it has knocked the stuffing out of the City squad. However, if you saw the post-match huddle in the West Country, it points towards a resilient set of boys, sticking by each other through thick and thin. And former Celtic man Fotheringham is determined to take his frustrations out on the Clarets at Carrow Road this weekend.
“We justified ourselves against Colchester; every chance that came along we took,” added the man brought to Norfolk by Peter Grant in January 2007.
“We created so many good chances and looked good going forward. We defended well too. And someone, hopefully Burnley, is due to take another drilling.
“The boys were disappointed on Saturday though because we went down there (Ashton Gate), played the way the manager wanted us to and he was pleased with us. But we were very disappointed that we didn't take any points from the game. At this stage of the season, we need every point we can get.”
And with points at a premium at this stage of the season ? with all but a few clubs fighting for one reason or another – Fotheringham sounded a word of warning on this weekend's opponents.
Owen Coyle's side have still got ambitions of the play-offs and after a 2-1 win over FA Cup semi-finalists Barnsley on Saturday, the men from Turf Moor sit just three points off sixth-placed Wolves.
“It's going to be a tough game but we're looking forward to it. Burnley are a good side, they'll be really up for it as well and, like us, they have a lot to play for.
“They have some excellent players at the club. They've got some lads who have attracted interest from some Premiership teams and some older experienced players who have played a lot of games in this league.
“But we know it's going to be like that every week; it's so tight and everyone can beat each other. Burnley are still in with a sneaky chance of the play-offs so we're all looking forward to it.
“We just need to keep playing the way we're playing and the luck will come our way. It is pleasing that the performances are there. We can't be negative about it.
“If we're being honest, we passed Bristol City ? who are top of the league ? off the park on Saturday so we must take the positives from that.”
With just five games remaining, we could, in theory, be seeing the last of Fotheringham in a City shirt. His contract comes to an end in the summer but it would be a major surprise to see him walk out on the club he has grown so fond with.
Canary chief Roeder, by the same token, will be loathed to lose a man whom he holds in such high regard. After all, he promoted him to club captain just a month or so into his City reign.
All the signs seem to be pointing to an extended tour of duty for the Scot. And the player himself has reiterated his desire to stay in Norfolk. But any contract talk can wait for now. Survival is the main thing.
“I love it here, my family is settled and this is a great club. I don't see any reason why I can't be here for another two or three years. But these things are not up to me. It's up to my agent to sit down but it's not important – safety comes first.
“I'm not thinking about the contract to be honest with you but since I have come back from my injury, in every game I have played, I have prepared 100% and have given it my all.
“No matter what happens I can look back at the end of the season and say I was ready for every single challenge.
“But we've got a good squad of players and I'm sure the contract will take care of itself. Glenn says no one player is bigger than this team and that's a really big motto. When I finish or Dion Dublin or Darren Huckerby finish this great club will still be here.”
Tom Haylett
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