Focussed Jones prepares for final run in

Last updated : 10 March 2009 By Michael Morris
City are still in with a shout of the automatic promotion places and Dave Jones is calling on everyone to keep their nerve.

We're in a position to strike for home," said Jones.

"What counts now is keeping your nerve. People talk about mental strength and that's the mentality you must have.

"Manchester United are the masters at it. Their fans have been educated that the winning goal or the breakthrough goal might not come until the last minute, the supporters have learnt to become patient.

"But you need that mental strength from the first game of the season.

"You just can't switch it on and off, you either have it or you don't."

City are looking for a third straight victory after two impressive homw wins. City are away tonight at Norwich and then on Sunday at Bristol City before the next four games which are all at Ninian Park.

"We realise that we didn't perform well at Southampton but I didn't hear the same comments when we lost to Plymouth as I did after the Southampton game," said Jones.

"That's because it's coming to the stage of the season when the games are coming thick and fast.

"If we go to the end of the season averaging two points a game then that's not a bad tally.

"Take the last three games - Southampton, Barnsley and Doncaster - and there is the two-point average.

"Do that and we will not be far off our target.

"It's still very tight and there is plenty of time for teams to get strong or falter.

"There are a lot of points up for grabs, but we are not concentrating on what other clubs are doing.

"We are heads down trying to get as many points as we can."