Smith - No Talk Of Relegation In Toon Camp!

Last updated : 01 December 2007 By Footy Mad - Editor

Alan Smith: "We have to stand up and be counted - and in the next few weeks and months, people will see that.

"I have been in situations like this before at Leeds when you have success and then disappointment.

"I was relegated with Leeds, but I am sure players in this dressing room will never let that happen.

"You never want to be tarnished as being one of the players who were relegated or had disappointment.

"A win tomorrow will put us back in the top half of the table and suddenly you are looking in the other direction - that's how quickly football can change.

"But it is only the players who can turn things around. The manager has no power once we cross the white line.

"It is down to us. We are a good team and to be in the top half or top six is where we want to be.

"The best form of defence is attack. Once you get a few bad results, a bit of negativity does creep in.

"When you concede goals, everyone tends to go on the counter-attack and not want to go forward as much because they are worried about what is happening at the back.

"But we have to get back to the mentality we had at the start of the season. We have good players at the club who can take us back where we belong."