Thome chuffed

Last updated : 05 January 2005 By Paul Farrington
He said: "It's been great to start the New Year with two wins as we'd been disappointed with the three previous results. I think we have shown good heart to bounce back with the wins in two difficult games against Sheffield United and Wolves and hopefully we can build on this return to form.

"Against Sheffield we played really well whereas against Wolves we couldn't play as much football but did a professional job. They were both very tough games and I think they are very big wins for us. To keep two clean sheets has been pleasing too as we have come up against some decent strikers and I have been pleased with my return to the team.

"It was really disappointing to pick up the hamstring injury that I did having finally got my chance and when I did get fit, I once again had to wait to get back into the team. That is fair enough because Ian Breckin and Matt Jackson have been doing well but now I'm back in the team I aim to stay there. I know that I must play well though, because whichever one of the three of us is on the bench can come in and do a good job if something happens to one of the other two.

"After the three defeats we have now got ourselves going again and sit nicely in second place in the League ahead of the break for the FA Cup. Our priority is the League there is no doubt about that, but it will probably be nice to go into the FA Cup and relax with the pressure off. We still want to win but I think the Gaffer may make some changes because we have played a lot of games in a short space of time.

"Christmas and New Year is a difficult time for footballers because we are away from our families a lot but we are professionals and have to get on with it. Thankfully I think we have come through the period OK in the end and hopefully we can build on the two good results we have had at the start of the New Year, as we now go into the really important part of the season."