City Told to Stay Focused
Last updated : 14 February 2002 By Andy Beill
A number of City's promotion rivals were in action on Tuesday night. Cheltenham won 2-0 at Darlington, Mansfield thrashed Lincoln 4-1, Scunthorpe came back to draw 1-1 against Macclesfield and Kidderminster lost 2-1 at Swansea.
However, the City management team are telling their players to take no notice of other sides' results.
Smith said: "At this stage of the season - and with so many teams in contention for the top seven - you are bound to get a lot of so called important games.
"I was at Darlington and we could have done with them taking something off Cheltenham. However, the worst thing we could do at the moment is take too much notice of what the sides around us in the table are doing.
"We've got to focus on our results. If we win enough matches then we'll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season - and it won't matter what other clubs do.
"What we've got to try and do is string five or six wins together. That really would make a difference. It's something we haven't managed all season but hopefully the Rushden game last Saturday has given us a timely lift."
Luton and Mansfield are joint 2nd/3rd, each having 57 points with 15 games to go.
Rochdale are two points behind the pair but have played a game extra. City are in 5th with 54 points, but have played 33 games.
Four points below us are Scunthorpe, who have also played 33. Cheltenham are level on points with them but have only played 30 games, and could go five points ahead of us if they win all their games in hand.
In the chasing pack are Shrewsbury and Rushden, each with 48 points from 33 games, and then Hartlepool and Kidderminster who have 46 from 31.
To see the table in full click
here.
