Brown Looking Up

Phil Brown is setting his sights on a strong finish to the season ahead of Saturday's trip to Middlesbrough.

The City boss is keen to start looking at the teams above City in the table rather than looking over their shoulder at the sides behind and believes the Tigers are close to getting things right at both ends of the field.

"I'm looking at a strong finish and that is important to me," said Brown.

"We're four points away from Manchester City who are tenth and that means we are four points away from being on the first page of Ceefax.

"Instead of everybody looking down, let's start looking up again. The only way to do that is by literally getting our heads up on the field and off it.

"I see a lot more goals, chances and creativity in our team than was shown in the second half against Portsmouth.

"I've seen the video and if anybody wants to sit and watch it, I thought we played some good football in the first half.

"There were four or five moments when we had time to just compose ourselves, have a touch and play the right pass.

"I certainly think there's enough goals in this team and I certainly think there's enough in terms of set-pieces.

"There's enough in terms of creativity with the likes of Geovanni, Barmby, Fagan, Mendy and Manucho as a front five. With that in mind, it just needs that confidence of nudging the ball over the line and going on a confident run.

"I think we have to keep faith with the team that's tightened up. People might class last week as a boring 0-0 draw, but it was far from that in the first half.

"To keep a clean sheet was key and clean sheets are going to be paramount in the last seven games.

"If we can get one on Saturday, that means we will have a point or three. That will put further space between us and Middlesbrough."