Chalobah: Derby and Stoke Draws Not Bad Results But We Need Wins
Thursday, 21st Feb 2019 17:13

Teenager Trevoh Chalobah has stressed there is still plenty of belief in the Town ranks that they can pull off one of the greatest escapes of all time to avoid dropping into League One at the end of this season.

The Chelsea loanee featured prominently in last week’s two home clashes with Derby and Stoke in which Paul Lambert’s team fell behind on each occasion before fighting back to rescue a point.

“That showed there is a belief and willingness among the players to never give up,” said Chalobah.

“It is never good for any team to go 1-0 down, especially one in our position, but we kept at it in both games. It was sheer hard work and graft that pulled is through to get a point in each game.”

But Chalobah accepts that even if Town could average a point per game over the remaining 13 league fixtures it would not be enough to beat the drop and acknowledges the recipe for survival must include a number of victories if they are to have any hope of surviving.

On paper at least, Saturday’s trip to Wigan and the home game seven days later against Reading look to be opportunities to record back-to-back wins at the expense of two teams currently just outside the bottom three but anxiously looking over their shoulders.

Chalobah added: “The draws against Derby and Stoke were not bad results but in our position we know we need to win games and where better to start than at Wigan on Saturday.

“Both Wigan and Reading, our next two opponents, are in and around us so to win both of them would be huge.

“Conceding early goals has cost us recently so we’ll be doing our very best to make sure it doesn’t happen again at Wigan.

“If we do it will only make our task that bit more difficult. We have been playing well in recent games and it would be great if we could go ahead.

“Getting the first goal would help us massively, especially when we’re playing against a team who are not far away from us in the league table.”

Chalobah insists he has no regrets at joining Town on loan, having originally been recruited by Paul Hurst last summer on a season-long deal, and even believes the experience of fighting against the odds to avoid relegation will prove beneficial in future.

He explained: “I didn’t want to have this experience of fighting relegation. It’s all new to me because as a loanee you want to go out and get games, but I know I’m right in the thick of a struggle to survive. It’s something different but as an experience it will be good for me.

“I wouldn’t want anyone to be in the position we’re in right now but we will continue to push each other and try to win the battle.

“It’s not a good feeling to be fighting against relegation but life and football are about setbacks and trying to get over them.

“It will only make me stronger going forward in my career. It will build me up mentally.

“I don’t have any regrets. I came here to get games and that’s what I’m doing.

“I just need to keep going and playing as many games as I can through to the end of the season. After that, I have no idea what will happen.”

Chalobah has netted twice this season, first of all in the 1-1 home draw with Aston Villa and then in Hurst’s only win during his 14 games in charge, when Town triumphed 3-2 at Swansea and the loanee grabbed an 84th minute clincher in South Wales, which remains the Blues’ only away win of the current campaign.

He added: “I still think I’ve got a lot to learn. I need to add goals and assists to my game — that’s the most important thing I need to do between now and the end of the season.

“I’ve had chances in most games during the second half of the season and as long as I keep believing in myself and getting in the right positions it will happen and I will get some goals for the team.

“At the start of the season I could see how physically tough it was at this level but as the season has progressed I think I have come to terms with it. I have developed physically as well and that has obviously helped."

Photo: TWTD

Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.