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Neil Lennon has appealed for calm in Wanderers’ battle to escape the bottom three.
Attention has been diverted away from the club’s struggles in the Championship as boardroom matters continue to dominate the agenda over the international break.
But nevertheless Lennon knows he must use the next eight days wisely to restore some forward momentum in a team sitting second bottom of the table and three points from safety.
One win in 16 games, albeit eight of them drawn, is a return that has ramped up pressure on the Wanderers boss and prompted a minority on the terraces to call for change.
But the man himself remains grounded, and with this week’s revelations about potential investment and calls for boardroom change making for an even more excitable atmosphere around the Macron Stadium, he is asking fans to keep a sense of perspective.
“You cannot panic in this kind of situation,” he said. “And that isn’t easy for people who are outside the football club. They look at it and say ‘we’re in trouble and we need a change’. But I’m not going away.
“It will be ugly. We will grind it out.
“There will be times when we play terribly and get something out of it.
“I know there will be times when we play awfully and get beat – but sometimes you play well and get nothing. It’s a frustrating business to be in.
“But I’m in this for the long haul. I’m excited by this challenge. I embrace it. And we’re going to do absolutely everything we can to make sure we pass it.”
Lennon has thanked the Wanderers fans for their backing last weekend and admits he is going to need their help again to lift a fragile squad.
“I cannot thank them enough because they have been magnificent,” he said. “No-one is more frustrated than me at the moment but I can imagine how they feel.
“I know there were a few dissenting voices towards the end but most saw a team who were trying to win a game of football. And what support lifts them.”
One problem which remains unsolved for the Wanderers boss is the identity of his penalty taker.
Both spot kicks awarded to the club this season have been missed, a symptom of the nervousness on the pitch.
Gary Madine was guilty against Nottingham Forest back in August while Shola Ameobi missed the first penalty of his professional career against Bristol City last weekend.
Both were deal-breakers as far as Lennon is concerned, and the manager is now looking for some reliability when the pressure is on.
“That’s where we are right now,” he added. “Those moments can make all the difference.
“Shola came in and held his hands up – he knows it could have meant the game. We had other chances, but that was a big one.
“It is the same for Madine against Nottingham Forest. As a manager you just want someone to grab the ball, put their laces through it and say ‘here you go, there’s the three points.’
“People miss penalties and it’s not something I’m going to linger on.”
Lennon’s appreciation of his players’ effort in the second half against Bristol City was reciprocated by fans, many of whom applauded the team off the pitch at the Macron last weekend.
The manager remains confident that if his side can show similar resolve over the next few months they can steer clear of trouble but he accepts that life at the bottom of the league does take a mental toll.
“You look at the response we got from the players after the penalty was missed and they didn’t go under – I like that,” he said. “They left everything out there and that is all I can ask of them.
“They actually went the other way and roused themselves up and played with more intensity.
“Now I’d like that to happen from the start of a game. We do need to start putting together two halves of football because one is not enough. But it is a positive sign.
“When you are down there it does sap your energy. You need mental strength when you are not winning games when you are on top.”
Source
Attention has been diverted away from the club’s struggles in the Championship as boardroom matters continue to dominate the agenda over the international break.
But nevertheless Lennon knows he must use the next eight days wisely to restore some forward momentum in a team sitting second bottom of the table and three points from safety.
One win in 16 games, albeit eight of them drawn, is a return that has ramped up pressure on the Wanderers boss and prompted a minority on the terraces to call for change.
But the man himself remains grounded, and with this week’s revelations about potential investment and calls for boardroom change making for an even more excitable atmosphere around the Macron Stadium, he is asking fans to keep a sense of perspective.
“You cannot panic in this kind of situation,” he said. “And that isn’t easy for people who are outside the football club. They look at it and say ‘we’re in trouble and we need a change’. But I’m not going away.
“It will be ugly. We will grind it out.
“There will be times when we play terribly and get something out of it.
“I know there will be times when we play awfully and get beat – but sometimes you play well and get nothing. It’s a frustrating business to be in.
“But I’m in this for the long haul. I’m excited by this challenge. I embrace it. And we’re going to do absolutely everything we can to make sure we pass it.”
Lennon has thanked the Wanderers fans for their backing last weekend and admits he is going to need their help again to lift a fragile squad.
“I cannot thank them enough because they have been magnificent,” he said. “No-one is more frustrated than me at the moment but I can imagine how they feel.
“I know there were a few dissenting voices towards the end but most saw a team who were trying to win a game of football. And what support lifts them.”
One problem which remains unsolved for the Wanderers boss is the identity of his penalty taker.
Both spot kicks awarded to the club this season have been missed, a symptom of the nervousness on the pitch.
Gary Madine was guilty against Nottingham Forest back in August while Shola Ameobi missed the first penalty of his professional career against Bristol City last weekend.
Both were deal-breakers as far as Lennon is concerned, and the manager is now looking for some reliability when the pressure is on.
“That’s where we are right now,” he added. “Those moments can make all the difference.
“Shola came in and held his hands up – he knows it could have meant the game. We had other chances, but that was a big one.
“It is the same for Madine against Nottingham Forest. As a manager you just want someone to grab the ball, put their laces through it and say ‘here you go, there’s the three points.’
“People miss penalties and it’s not something I’m going to linger on.”
Lennon’s appreciation of his players’ effort in the second half against Bristol City was reciprocated by fans, many of whom applauded the team off the pitch at the Macron last weekend.
The manager remains confident that if his side can show similar resolve over the next few months they can steer clear of trouble but he accepts that life at the bottom of the league does take a mental toll.
“You look at the response we got from the players after the penalty was missed and they didn’t go under – I like that,” he said. “They left everything out there and that is all I can ask of them.
“They actually went the other way and roused themselves up and played with more intensity.
“Now I’d like that to happen from the start of a game. We do need to start putting together two halves of football because one is not enough. But it is a positive sign.
“When you are down there it does sap your energy. You need mental strength when you are not winning games when you are on top.”
Source
