Boss: "It's a huge game for both clubs"
ALEX Neil says belief is high in the Norwich City camp ahead of Fridayâs âhugeâ head-to-head with Middlesbrough (7.45pm).The Canaries enter the televised home game on the back of a five-match winning streak that has kept them in the top two for what looks set to be one of the Sky Bet Championshipâs most thrilling promotion climaxes in recent years.
Middlesbrough are only a point adrift of Neilâs men in fourth place, and he didnât play down the significance of the high-stakes contest at Carrow Road.
âItâs a huge game for both clubs. Whichever team comes out on top, if there is a winner, will have a huge advantage going into the remaining two games,â he said.
âWeâre really confident, weâre in a good place the moment. We know what our task is, and if we play at our full potential, then we can beat anyone in the league. Weâve got to make sure we hit those heights in the game tomorrow night.
âFor both teams, a win is what is needed. Weâll go into the game with the approach of trying to do that, and Iâm sure they will be the same. It should make for an entertaining game hopefully.
âI think the boys deserve as many of the fans to turn up as they can, and for them to be as vocal as they can and give them their backing.â
Watfordâs 3-1 triumph at Nottingham Forest on Wednesday drew them level with the Canaries, with league leaders Bournemouth just a single point ahead of the pair.
All three have picked up maximum points across the last three rounds of fixtures, but Neil is focussing his playersâ attentions on their own targets.
âI expected that to be the case. If it wasnât, then good, but our task is to and win our next three remaining games. We need to start that on Friday, thatâs our sole focus now â making sure that we go and put a good performance in,â he told Norwich City TV.
âWe recognise how hard weâve worked to get to this situation. This game will go a long way in deciding the fate of all four of the top teams. Weâve got to make sure that we keep doing what weâve been doing, and hopefully go on and try and get the points.
âMiddlesbrough are stubborn and difficult to play against. Theyâre well organised, and I think theyâre a counter-attacking team.
âWeâll need to make sure we move the ball crisply when weâve got it, and that we guard against them breaking when they do.â
Neil says he will make a late call on whether to include Lewis Grabban (ankle) in his squad after the striker limped out of the warm-up before Tuesdayâs game at Leeds United.
Bradley Johnson is available after serving his two-match suspension, yet Cityâs boss says he has an entire squad of eager players to select from.
âTheyâre all desperate to play, whether itâs Bradley or anybody else. Theyâre desperate to be in the starting eleven and show their worth to the team,â he added.
âItâs about picking the right combinations and making sure Iâm putting out the right side to win that particular game. If that includes Bradley, then so be it â if it doesnât, then it doesnât.
âItâs a great situation for me to be in, itâs a great situation for the squad to be in as well.â
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