Danny Batth has reacted to Tony Mowbray's comments, where the gaffer said the club will look to strengthen their defensive reinforcements in the summer.
COMPETITION
“I think every club has to have competition for places. Look it won’t just be me who has competition for places, it will be Dan, and Luke, and Aji. There should be competition all over the pitch. If you want to be successful you have to have a training group that really drives the standard."
LOW ON NUMBERS
“We were preparing for the game against Cardiff the other day and we haven’t got that depth of squad because of the injuries we’ve got. We’ve got goalkeepers playing outfield as we are trying to replicate what Cardiff do. There are holes in the squad that are going to be filled and that will be no different at any other club in the league. I always enjoy a challenge.”
CAPTAIN
“It’s not the first club I’ve captained a club. Obviously Corry is out injured and I’ve been leading the team but you don’t need an armband to do that. I think it’s always been a responsibility I’ve taken upon myself and I just try to be a good example and voice for the team.
COMMUNICATION
“We’re not full of talkers, we haven’t got too many that are too extroverted. I think organising as best I can and trying to perform well myself gives the rest of the lads in front of us confidence that they can take risks and we’ll still be there to defend. I'm telling the likes of Edouard [Michut], 'can you drop in and make it difficult for them?' We've had to be really smart in that sense this season because teams will look at us on paper and think if they perhaps block me or block a [Dan] Ballard they'll have a free run at it [getting on the end of balls in the box]."
CHAMPIONSHIP INVESTMENT
"I think Covid has probably done that in terms of the reaction in terms of the wages and investment clubs can afford to make. We finished fifth in League One last year and are coming to places like Cardiff and winning."
BELIEF
"It's alright saying it's not a great league but we weren't great in League One to be honest. We rode away and got promoted and now have that belief and momentum in the group to compete with these teams. We don't take anything for granted and go into every game with an appetite to win and have to believe we can compete at this level. We have a handful of players who have played most of their careers at this level but for a lot of the lads it's their debut season and they have really done well so far."
CARDIFF WIN
"I think [we could have won more comfortably] but there is never much between teams in the Championship. We saw that the other night [when Sunderland conceded an injury-time penalty which cost them two points against Hull City] with the game management at the end where a more experienced side perhaps sees that game out comfortably. I thought Monday was important, especially when we went ahead, because everyone to a man to dug in and stuck to their task."
FIRST HALF
"We were really fluid first half and we spoke about that before the game if they want to sit off to draw them out and play through them. I felt like we looked really good first half and that's part of the Championship, you are going to get different tests and teams are going to try different strategies to make it uncomfortable for you."
DIRECTNESS
"I thought first half we were brilliant and then obviously they reacted at half-time and just simplified their game and were more direct to ask questions of our back three/back four. It only takes a moment to switch off and they've got big boys in from the back at the end there."
