Tommy Smith urges fans not to panic
Mon Mar 11, 2013 1:54 pm
Cardiff City star Tommy Smith has moved to ease fans’ jitters ahead of the Championship promotion run-in, insisting: “We are still confident of finishing the job.”
The Bluebirds entertain promotion rivals Leicester City on Tuesday night after a weekend that saw main promotion rivals Watford lose 2-1 at home to Blackpool.
It means the Bluebirds remain five points clear at the top of the table with two games in hand, although Hull could close that gap to three points with a win against Burnley on Monday night.
Despite Cardiff’s recent blip in form that has seen hem claim just one win in their last four matches, Smith says the squad remain full of confidence, even if he can understand fans getting nervous.
“Obviously the results haven’t been great over the last three games,” he said.
“But, it’s the Championship and that’s the way it goes you know? We’ve had a great run all season up until the last three and it happens. The games could have easily gone the other way.
“If we could have taken a couple of early chances we had against Brighton it could have been a different result, Middlesbrough there was a 10 minute period where they got two good goals and we struggled to come back from that. So you know, we’re not reading too much into it
“It’s narrowed but you know, it’s still five points with two games in hand and potentially it might not have narrowed.
“Of course the fans are going to look at that and start to worry, but every game is huge and there’s going to be a few strange results and I think you saw that at the weekend as well.
“You can’t really call results, the Championship always throws it at you and I think we’ve shown enough consistency throughout the season to not worry.
“As it turns out it was a really good weekend, which again just shows anything can happen and as long as we don’t worry about it and don’t let the pressure or what the fans are thinking or saying get to us, then obviously we can keep our form and retain it until the end of the season.
“We’re in a great position and obviously the two games in hand are big games for us and obviously we need to capitalise on those.”
Malky Mackay is set to welcome back influential duo Mark Hudson and Craig Bellamy for the Leicester clash after both missed out on last week’s 1-1 draw with Derby county.
And Smith believes the return of both players could prove crucial.
“It is huge boost having Mark and Craig back. Mark is the captain, a huge influence in the dressing room as well as on the pitch.
“That goes for Craig as well really. They are both big characters for us. I think, as I said before, this time of the season is huge and you need those types of players around you.
“We’ve got a few young players in the squad, but if you look at the team we’ve got, there’s a lot of experience, particularly at this level.
“There doesn’t seem to be too many nerves right now and certainly the experience within the squad, that’s why. The staring 11 certainly isn’t that young and everyone’s got plenty of games. It’s not really a case of that to be honest.”
Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2NEtbAVPD
The Bluebirds entertain promotion rivals Leicester City on Tuesday night after a weekend that saw main promotion rivals Watford lose 2-1 at home to Blackpool.
It means the Bluebirds remain five points clear at the top of the table with two games in hand, although Hull could close that gap to three points with a win against Burnley on Monday night.
Despite Cardiff’s recent blip in form that has seen hem claim just one win in their last four matches, Smith says the squad remain full of confidence, even if he can understand fans getting nervous.
“Obviously the results haven’t been great over the last three games,” he said.
“But, it’s the Championship and that’s the way it goes you know? We’ve had a great run all season up until the last three and it happens. The games could have easily gone the other way.
“If we could have taken a couple of early chances we had against Brighton it could have been a different result, Middlesbrough there was a 10 minute period where they got two good goals and we struggled to come back from that. So you know, we’re not reading too much into it
“It’s narrowed but you know, it’s still five points with two games in hand and potentially it might not have narrowed.
“Of course the fans are going to look at that and start to worry, but every game is huge and there’s going to be a few strange results and I think you saw that at the weekend as well.
“You can’t really call results, the Championship always throws it at you and I think we’ve shown enough consistency throughout the season to not worry.
“As it turns out it was a really good weekend, which again just shows anything can happen and as long as we don’t worry about it and don’t let the pressure or what the fans are thinking or saying get to us, then obviously we can keep our form and retain it until the end of the season.
“We’re in a great position and obviously the two games in hand are big games for us and obviously we need to capitalise on those.”
Malky Mackay is set to welcome back influential duo Mark Hudson and Craig Bellamy for the Leicester clash after both missed out on last week’s 1-1 draw with Derby county.
And Smith believes the return of both players could prove crucial.
“It is huge boost having Mark and Craig back. Mark is the captain, a huge influence in the dressing room as well as on the pitch.
“That goes for Craig as well really. They are both big characters for us. I think, as I said before, this time of the season is huge and you need those types of players around you.
“We’ve got a few young players in the squad, but if you look at the team we’ve got, there’s a lot of experience, particularly at this level.
“There doesn’t seem to be too many nerves right now and certainly the experience within the squad, that’s why. The staring 11 certainly isn’t that young and everyone’s got plenty of games. It’s not really a case of that to be honest.”
Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2NEtbAVPD
Re: Tommy Smith urges fans not to panic
Mon Mar 11, 2013 2:34 pm
love tommy smith, great player, great attitude. fans have been getting on his back the last few games but i have faith he will start getting his form back just like the rest of the team.
Re: Tommy Smith urges fans not to panic
Mon Mar 11, 2013 3:11 pm
Kanester wrote:love tommy smith, great player, great attitude. fans have been getting on his back the last few games but i have faith he will start getting his form back just like the rest of the team.
Spot on. Thought him and Whitts were coming in for alot of uncalled abuse v Derby. The pressure on Whitts is already beyond belief without his mates adding to it with poor balls to him in dangerous positions!
Re: Tommy Smith urges fans not to panic
Mon Mar 11, 2013 4:15 pm
Kanester wrote:love tommy smith, great player, great attitude. fans have been getting on his back the last few games but i have faith he will start getting his form back just like the rest of the team.
Spot on
