Jones looking for Bluebirds boost

Last updated : 30 September 2008 By Michael Morris
Defeat at Swansea followed by defeat at Ninian Park against Birmingham has all of a sudden changed the atmosphere around the club with frustration, lack of confidence and infighting all coming to the surface.

Now Jones must steady his crew and get back to winning toinight when Coventry visit Ninian Park.

"When we beat Barnsley away and got a point at Derby everybody was crowing about how well we were doing," he explained.

"We go and lose to Swansea and all of a sudden all hell breaks loose, as if it's the end of the world.

"I was very disappointed with the reaction.

"But it was only one game and you can't let it affect you.

"But we do need a pick-me-up at the moment. Within seven days it's as if everybody has had a big lull and we can't understand why that has happened.

"It was as if the world fell apart for some of them.

"Some of the players just didn't deal with it as they should have.

"I have told them they just have to keep going. But someone told me you are always one game away from a disaster in Wales and that bore fruit last week.

"The players have to shake themselves out of it and that's what we did on Saturday.

"We probably outplayed Birmingham in every department but one. Unfortunately it was the vital one.

"Our strikers are not delivering what they should be at the moment, when you consider the amount of possession and play we have around the box," he said.

"We put 37 crosses in on Saturday and that is a hell of a lot. But we have to get people on the end of them.

"They are the runs people need to make. The only way you do that is by getting them on the training ground and going over it again.

"Jay Bothroyd is just so desperate to get a goal that he some of his runs aren't the right ones anymore.

"We will find him but he has to be in the right position to convert the chances."

Jones must decide whether or not to drop Darren Purse for tonigth's game after naming Purse as the person responsible for Birmingham's opening goal. Purse hit back in the media saying he was unhappy that Jones made his thoughts public. Gabor Gyepes, signed from Northampton is August, has been patiently waiting for his chance to make his debut. Could tonight be the time?