Jay set for play-offs push
8:00am Friday 1st March 2013 in Sport By David Pye
WANDERERS midfielder Jay Spearing says he has no problem with the raised expectation levels a recent run of five Championship matches unbeaten has produced at the Reebok.
The on-loan Liverpool man believes the team needed to start producing results to match their improved performances and is relishing the added pressure to get a third consecutive victory at lowly Barnsley tomorrow.
And he still harbours hopes of bridging a seven-point gap to the play-off places with two more home matches in quick succession after the trip to Oakwell.
Spearing, who has missed just two league outings since his arrival, said: “We have had to raise expectations. It’s not just the supporters, but it’s the full side.
“We know where we are and we know that every single point is important now. Saturday becomes a massive game.
“Results have turned round now and we’re starting to play to our potential.
“We know that our home games are going to be massive for us, so we need to pick up as many points as possible. From a personal point of view, I feel like I am getting into it a bit more now. My focus is trying to get us into the play-offs and I don’t see why that isn’t possible.
“From a team’s point of view, though, I think we’ve been playing this well for a while.
“It has just been a case of things not really going our way.
“Thankfully, that has started to change and we are showing what we are capable of.
“I think from day one the lads have grasped what the manager wanted to do.
“I think it was only a matter of time before things started to fall our way and the results came.
“We are getting what we deserve now and it’s just a case of carrying that on.”
Spearing has been a consistent performer in midfield since joining on a season-long loan from Anfield.
And recent games have also seen him turn set-piece provider from corners leading to goals from goalscoring centre-back Craig Dawson.
The 24-year-old is pleased to be adding assists to his game.
He added: “Assists have been a long time coming. I’m enjoying taking them and I’ll do it as long as the gaffer wants me to.
“It’s great he’s put that responsibility on to myself and I’ll take it with both hands.
“It’s just a case of the lads getting their head on the other end.
“We only do them the day before games, not massively, it’s just a matter of swinging it in there for the lads in the box and the ones making the runs to get on the end of them.
“Craig’s been a massive influence on and off the field. To come in and play as well as he has, and score the goals he has is great. Touch wood that keeps going.”
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