Brewers midfielder focusing on remaining games
Midfielder Robbie Weir returned to the side after injury and feels that he has come back fresh after a couple of games on the sidelines - which could ultimately benefit him and the team as the season draws to a conclusion."I had a hamstring injury but I think that little break has done me the world of good. I feel hungrier for it and if it comes to the play-offs then I feel really ready for it and this little break for me might turn out to be for the best as it has got me that little bit fresher for the games coming up." explained Robbie before going on to express his disappointment at the teams performance against Northampton, echoing manager Gary Rowett's view that it was probably the most disappointing game of the season so far.
"I would have to agree with the manager" said the Irishman, "We just didnt get going today. We didnt hold the ball up well enough or turn and go back out anywhere near enough. We always knew that they were going to be fighting and starting brightly because they are fighting against relegation but we have to stand up and take it on the chin. We expected to come down here and start well ourselves but it didnt happen so we have to move on quickly to the next game."
"There weren't many chances between us, it was quite an even game but if the goal doesnt go in, and you have to say it was a mistake, you can say could we go on and win it but you just never know so we have to put it behind us and go again. The goal, coming when it did, took it out of us a bit and we probably dropped off a bit and invited pressure on to us. Obviously we are up near the top of the table for a reason so we cant get away from the fact that we didnt play well today but it is important that we come back from this quickly and move on."
Some of Albion's better performances, and indeed results on the road have come at the sides near the top of the table with results against the lower sides in the division perhaps not coming up to expectation. Something that Weir knows the team have to put right to make them true automatic promotion contenders.
"We always knew today was going to be tough given where they are in the league but it seems to have happened a few times for us against the sides lower in the league. We have Chesterfield coming up soon and no doubt we will go out and play really well in that one but I think it is just the nature of football and games like today can happen but if we really want to be going for automatic promotion then we have to be winning games like today. All we can do is play well and we know that today was unacceptable but who knows, we could win the next four games and the teams above us can still drop points so we have to stay in and around there and make sure we are winning games. Today was a chance to stay just three points off the top three so we need to learn quickly from today."
Nevertheless, if it is to be the play-offs again then Robbie acknowledges that it is a great achievement for the Brewers given the seasons experienced by previous play-off sides and he also admits that anyone can win the play-offs such is the nature of the end of season race for promotion.
"It is a real credit to everyone at the club to make the play-offs two years in a run, if we achieve that, but it is always a gamble, its about whoever turns up on the day. Nobody wants to lose in the play-offs, particularly in the semi-finals so we need to get back to what we do best and go and beat Hartlepool and then we have another game quickly on the Monday away at Newport to get us ready for the end of the season and from there who knows."