Preston North End club captain Alan Browne spoke strongly to iFollow PNE about the need for the team to show personal pride when they head to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.
The Lilywhites’ No.8 says that the team should be highly-motivated to put things right after Saturday’s defeat at Wycombe.
Speaking to the club’s online TV channel, he said: “We have to use the weekend as motivation. If you can’t motivate yourself, then you can’t expect anyone else to do it for you. People think it is the gaffer’s job to motivate the players, which, to an extent it is, but if you can’t take that personal pride yourself, then you shouldn’t be here.
“At this club, we want to be ambitious and want to get to the next level and that is the mentality that we have and you have to be able to take that pressure that comes with it as well.”
The Irish international says that every single point is vital in the final ten games and that the side should be trying to take some momentum into the summer.
“We are sat in mid-table now; we are not going to get into the Play-Offs, realistically and there is a chance you have to look over your shoulder, so, for us, we have ten games remaining and we need to fight for every single point that we can,” he continued.
“For a while now, we have been going through some changes and you have to deal with that as well, but we will try and stay as positive as we can and it has got to a stage now where results have to happen – the talking is over, you can’t keep making excuses, because it is the same thing every week.
“From now until the end of the season we have to accumulate as many points as we can and try and get some momentum looking ahead for next year.”
The skipper admits that his own role in the dressing room has been one where he has had to restrain some of his views in recent weeks, but says that will not be the case for the remainder of the season as he looks to lead on and off the pitch.
“Without the armband, I have probably said more than with it, because I don’t want people to think that ‘I’m the captain, so I have to shout at everyone’.
“I am not afraid to dig anyone out. I have probably let a few things go recently, because of the transitional period we went through and the new faces coming in – it is always tough for people to settle in, so you can’t be digging everyone out when they are trying to get used to the club and to the style of play.
“If you are breathing down their neck every week, then it is just going to kill their confidence, but it has got to a stage now where I have always been vocal enough, but I will have to step up and I don’t mind doing that.
“Performances speak louder than words, I have always believed that, and I have tried to lead by example on the pitch, which, to be fair, I haven’t done enough this season, but I will do everything I can to make sure that happens and I will probably be more vocal and if people need to be dug out, then they will be dug out.”
Middlesbrough are the next opponents and Alan says that the side must have belief that they can go and take the three points: “Every game is an opportunity to build something; to get a win and try and build on that win. It is something that we have lacked this year, we have had no consistency.
“We have won one and lost one and it has got to a stage where we have drawn or lost and we need to get that mentality back that we can beat anyone that we come against and I firmly believe that.
“I have always believed that whoever you play, it is 11 versus 11 and whoever plays well has the advantage. We have to look at tomorrow’s game as an opportunity to go and win and to start something good,” he added.
The game will be live on iFollow PNE from approximately 6.30pm on Tuesday night, with Guy Clarke joined in the Riverside commentary box by former North End defender Michael Jackson; click here now to sign up for an iFollow PNE match pass for £10.