Manager Neil Harris has said he won’t make any kneejerk decisions ahead of tonight’s clash against Sheffield United.
With a disappointing loss to Swindon Town, we now head to Bramall Lane to face the League One leaders later this evening, and whilst Harris pulled few punches as he reflected on the one nil Swindon defeat again, he also promised that he and the players would respond in a measured way.
Speaking to London News Online as he met with the media in his pre game press interviews, Harris explained that clearly there is extra pressure on now given the Play Offs but equally a loss was always going to happen given the unbeaten run we were on.
‘Saturday was a disappointing result, coupled with Scunthorpe and Southend both winning. It certainly hinders our opportunity to get back into the top six sooner rather than later. We`ve got to go and attack the Sheffield United game and get something out of it, at least a positive and battling performance.’
Harris went on to say.
‘We`re still in a really good position. Not getting the result on Saturday has put pressure on us, that`s for sure. We`ve made it more difficult for ourselves. But at this stage of the season, approaching April, we are right in the thick of it. We have to play well under pressure and have got the players and group to be able to do that. I`ll have a lot who will want to put things right at Sheffield United.’
Looking back to the Swindon defeat, Harris was again critical of the performance as he expects a lot more than one shot on target from the side – but again it was about giving a measured response to things.
‘I don`t make kneejerk reactions – I am methodical and take my time. I need to look at what caused such poor individual performances from players who have been a talisman or really strong for us. They have put their bodies on the line – maybe I have to accept it was a step too far for some of them on Saturday in terms of playing a lot of football. We were as disappointing with the ball as we`ve been for a long time. But we were unbeaten for three-and-a-half months, which is a hell of a long time in football. There have been some poor performances along the way – generally those have been at home and we`ve been able to hustle and bustle our way, Millwallstyle, across the line.’
And that again brings us to a reaction tonight against a quality side.
‘On Saturday we couldn`t quite do that. But we won`t get carried away. We`ll stick with our usual routine which has served us so well. I didn`t want to see the players on Mother`s Day – I wanted them to see their families and gather their thoughts. Sheffield United are a really good side – but we need a Sheffield United away or a Charlton match to really bounce back and force us to compete. They have set the standard over the last four or five months.’