Sean Morrison - " Dressing room spirit "

The inside track on the dressing room spirit that could push Cardiff City into the play-offs

06/04/16

Sean Morrison has lifted the lid on Cardiff City's dressing room spirit he reckons is the best he's ever known – and could be the secret to their surprising promotion bid.

And he claims part of it is down to the urge to try and save manager Russell Slade who came close to the boot just a few months ago.

The Bluebirds have kept in touch with the play-off pack for most of the season without really hammering home their top-six credentials.

But a steady momentum of form has seen them surge into genuine contenders for a shot at the Premier League, underlined by their impressive performance at league leaders Burnley on Tuesday night.

The result saw Cardiff lose ground on rivals Derby and Sheffield Wednesday, but the nature of the display gave renewed hope that they can claw their way into the play-off positions come the end of the season, starting with Fulham on Saturday.

It was a showing of spirit and belief, one epitomised by returning centre-back and man of the match Morrison, but one he says is oozing out of the Cardiff changing room at the moment.

And he maintains that seeing Slade being reportedly told by Bluebirds hierarchy he had just three games to save his job just after Christmas has only strengthened the squad's bond.

“We have the bottle for this fight, 100%,” said Morrison, 25. “Just look at our performances and look at the attitude, you can see the spirit which is phenomenal. It's one of the best changing rooms I've been in. Just because of that I don't think we'd fold.

“Everyone can see it's such a long way from last season and a lot of that is down to the gaffer. He deserves a lot of credit for the job he's done because he's been fantastic.

“He's come under pressure at times but he's never showed any sign of it with us and I think that's another reason the changing room is so good.

“I think some of the criticism he's had has been uncalled for, but he's been brilliant with us and he's never put that pressure onto us – and that's why we've got his back even more.

“When he came in the club was in a difficult position and he's put a great changing room together. He and the coaching make it a place you want to come and work and it shows on the pitch compared to the beginning of last year. The boys will do anything for each other and we will fight for every point.”

Cardiff could need 12 more if they are to hit the target of 75 – the average needed for a team finishing in sixth over the past ten years – meaning they may need as many as four wins from their final six fixtures.

Of course, all that matters is Cardiff match the returns of Derby or Sheffield Wednesday to give themselves a chance going into the final weekend.

With the Rams and the Owls to play each other, and Cardiff facing a trip to Hillsborough, Morrison admits he would obviously prefer avoiding final day jeopardy by securing a play-off ticket long before that last weekend on May 7.

He speaks from experience having been part of a Reading side that missed out on a play-off place on the final day of the 2013/14 season, drawing at home to Burnley while Brighton nicked their spot with a last minute goal against Nottingham Forest.

But Morrison is adamant that history will not repeat itself, adding: “We know this is crunch time and I can imagine it will be nail-biting for fans.

“We'd all rather we can get ourselves in there before the final weekend but you can't choose and we just want to get there. I've gone into the last game with Reading where we had to win on the last day and we missed out by a point and it's devastating, but if it's in our hands at that stage I'd take it – I'd fancy us against anyone at home because teams don't want to face us.

“I don't see us as having lost ground – we've gone to a very good team and got a point when a lot of people thought we wouldn't – and there's six games to go where the other sides have got some very hard games coming up and they're not going to win them all.

“We're at a stage of the season where every game is tough to call – teams down the bottom that you might expect to beat are fighting for their lives – so we just have to keep plugging away and doing what we're doing because at the moment it's really good and we can feel it in the dressing room. We're still on track and we'll keep going.”

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foot ... t-11144691?

Love hearing positivity like this! Most of the forum posters put they're hands up including me who was wrong about slade and I've really warmed to him it would be absolute criminal to not give him another season were just totally in a different place from where we was last season.and a big shout out to tan and the ceo's for doing everything right of the field I haven't felt this positivity for the club for to long

No matter which division we are in next year I am already looking forward to as there is great attitude on and off the pitch.

I have huge respect for Slade as the task he was given to sort out the post Premiership mess was a something I don't think many managers would have taken on his salary and under the circumstances he's worked under.

I don't know what his contract situation is but surely he's going to be in demand from other clubs.

PS I still believe we can make the playoffs

This is why I stuck up for Slade from the beginning. Slade has brought in players like O'Keefe, Immers and Peltier - players with the correct character who will never let us down. The players have all really taken to Slade, we've hit a good run of form and the dressing room is a happy place to be at the moment.

Whether we make the playoffs or get promoted I don't know, but whatever happens, our club is in a much better state today than it was when Slade initially took over. Slade has done a remarkable job. No doubts from me that Slade must stay on next season, regardless of what division we are in.

No matter which division we are in next year I am already looking forward to as there is great attitude on and off the pitch.

I have huge respect for Slade as the task he was given to sort out the post Premiership mess was a something I don't think many managers would have taken on his salary and under the circumstances he's worked under.

I don't know what his contract situation is but surely he's going to be in demand from other clubs.

PS I still believe we can make the playoffs

#insladewetrust

RUSSELL SLADES BARMY ARMY!!!!!!

I love this article, and the fact everybody battled to help their manager shows just how much spirit is in the camp.

Wonderful times ahead for a team that are playing lovely football under Russey.

RUSSELL SLADES BARMY ARMY

Very good to know fair play to Slade.