Jennings: We have the belief to succeed

Apr 2 2008 by Nick Hilton, Liverpool Daily Post

STEVE JENNINGS insists the Tranmere dressing-room is fired up rather than anxious about the task of securing a play-off berth over the last five games of the season.

The midfielder sees Saturday’s visit to Walsall as the first of a series of key encounters with rivals for a top-six finish in League One. But he does not believe the high stakes of the games will cause nerves to fray at Prenton Park.

Jennings said: “I think the added pressure of the situation is going to spur us on. The belief is there that we can get the job done.

“Looking at the fixtures we have left, I think there are three games that are more or less six pointers. If we can win those games we should finish in the play-offs, so the issue is in our hands. We can only throw it away ourselves.

“Are we nervous? Not really. I don’t think it’s got anything to do with nerves at this stage. It is more about luck than anything in my view.”

Jennings would concede he enjoyed a favourable break of the ball when scoring Tranmere’s first goal in the 2-1 win over Swindon last Friday.

But Rovers were in no way flattered by a result that put them back in the play-off frame and Jennings reckons they are due a run of favourable fortune.

He said: “I would say we’ve not had a lot of good luck this season. The only instances I can remember were the away game at Millwall and the home game against Hartlepool.

“If we had not conceded an own goal in the first minute of the game at Bournemouth on Easter Monday, I don’t think we would have lost that one. And we would be in a stronger position now.”

Even so, Jennings acknowledges the long journey home from Dean Court was one of the low points of the season. “It felt more like 15 hours than six hours on the bus,” Jennings said. “We were all quiet, watching a game on TV and we knew we would be in for training the next day.

“But you don’t get anywhere by sulking. You have to stand up and be counted and do your best in the next game. That’s what we did against Swindon. We got the win we needed.”

The victory was Tranmere’s ninth in the last 12 League One fixtures and Prenton Park. Jennings said: “We’ve not always played that well at home, but we’ve been able to get results and that’s the most important thing.”

Jennings’ own fortunes took a significant turn for the better this season, when he re-established himself as a first-team regular at Prenton Park after figuring in only a handful of games during 2006-07.

He hopes to make his 36th start of the campaign at the Bescot Stadium. The figure would be higher but for a three match suspension for a sending-off at Bristol Rovers at the end of February.

With nine yellow cards also against his name, Jennings must tread carefully over the next two games to ensure he does not collect a 10th caution and with it a two-match suspension.

Midfield partners Paul McLaren and defender Antony Kay are also walking the same tight rope.

Jennings said: “I have to watch what I do but not shy out of anything. The last thing I want to do is miss more games.

“This season has been a 100% turnaround for me and I want to see it out doing the best I can for Tranmere.

“Last season I hardly played at all but I always knew I had a good chance of proving myself if I got my head down and worked hard.”