'City need spirit of 2005', says Johnson

Last updated : 05 November 2008 By Smallsy

AS part of preparations for his side's game with Southampton this week, Gary Johnson has called on players and fans to 'believe' if they want the Robins to achieve things this season.

City face a tough task this weekend when they travel south to the struggling Saints who picked up a good win on Saturday. Off the back of their heaviest defeat of the season to Reading, the Robins need a result to show their character and to keep pace with the likes of Reading, Wolves,
Birmingham and Sheffield United.

Confident that his side can overcome any obstacle put in front of them, Gary Johnson admits he is under no illusions that he faces a tough task to lift spirits after such a damaging defeat but believes the fans can play a large part in creating a wave of positive support.

In a press conference held yesterday, the City manager reminisced about his early time at City which saw the club go on a nine match winless run and slip to the foot of league one.

The manager spoke of the 'fantastic' support his side receives in such times and said that in their current predicament the 'spirit of 2005' needs to be recreated,

"We need that spirit again. Those were difficult times for the club but those fans who came along week after week never stopped believing and, thanks to them, we turned things around and went on an unbeaten run.

"That's why I was so grateful to those fans who kept singing right up until the end of the Reading game.

"Those are the people we really need now. They are the ones who remember where we have come from. They helped us overcome adversity before and their support means we will bounce back again."