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Ireland insists that City must not be too concerned about Portsmouth
raising their game this Saturday after the sacking of Tony Adams.
Pompey
have installed Paul Hart as caretaker manager following Adams'
dismissal, and their fans will be hoping that they follow the usual
pattern of sides making a big improvement after a change in leadership.
But
the midfielder, who has been in such great form this season, thinks
that his team mates must concentrate on their own approach at Fratton
Park, saying,
"Usually there is an improvement, but I don't
think we should look into what Portsmouth are doing too much. it's more
a case of how we are going to do it.
"We need to push on and
win these games, we beat them at home and now we are into the second
half of the season so we have to try to do the same thing again."
A
win for City would push them into seventh place in the Barclays Premier
League table on a weekend where other top-flight sides are either
involved in FA Cup action or resting completely.
Stephen
continues, "We need to isolate ourselves in seventh place by winning a
few games, rather than lose or draw games and get dragged into the pack
around 11th. A good run is what we want, to stay around seventh place
and see where we are nearer to the last few games of the season.
"If
we can get an early goal, say in the first 15 minutes or so, then we
tend to be on our way. If we get to 70 minutes without scoring we find
it more difficult. Getting that early goal means we can go on to beat
teams well, we have done that at home and against Portsmouth a few
months ago, so we have to look to do that this weekend."
The
arrival of fellow countryman Shay Given has also pleased Stephen, but
he is backing City's younger keepers to benefit from their new team
mate's experience.
"I always rated Shay, I like him as a kid and
I thought he should have been in teams that were challenging for
trophies because he is such a great keeper. For him to have not won
anything is a shock, it is similar to Jaaskelainen at Bolton, because
he is another very good keeper. I was excited to hear that we were
linked with Shay, because he is such a good player.
"Joe and Kasper have done really well, but I think having Shay here with all his experience will bring them both on."
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