Berra: Small Squad Can Be a Plus
Friday, 29th Nov 2013 09:26

Ipswich may be operating with one of the Championship’s smallest squads but that can be a plus point according to defender Christophe Berra.

The 28-year-old Scot explained: “It does have its positives because we’re a close-knit squad and everyone’s together. There are no cliques and everyone gets along well.

“Fingers crossed we get through the busy Christmas period without picking up any long-term injuries. It will be tested no doubt but that’s why we have everyone included by the manager and TC in training.

“All the players know that and will keep their fitness up so that they are ready if we need them at any point.”

Berra is one of the most experienced players in the group — he captained first club Hearts before moving south to join Wolves almost five years ago — and often puts his leadership qualities to good use.

He added: “As you play through the years you obviously gain experience and sometimes, now and again, you might say things to help your younger colleagues.

“I can be vocal but I’m not the type to be screaming and shouting the whole game. You try to lead by example with the things you do but in football everyone has to take their own responsibility as well and also lead the team on from their role in the side.

“There are times in games when you have to say things and give somebody a kick up the backside but most of the time, if they make mistakes, players know. If they do it three or four times that’s maybe the time you need to say something and get them to switch on.”

Town will be seeking their first clean sheet in eight games — their last was in the 2-0 home win over Brighton in late September — when they travel to South London on Saturday to take on Charlton.

Berra added: “This league is so competitive and if you drop your standards just a little bit teams can punish you. As a defender you pride yourself on keeping clean sheets but at the moment we just want to win games, or at least not get beaten, especially away from home.

“In the past eight games we’ve only lost a couple but we’ve probably drawn too many. We’ve been in winning positions in games and maybe we’ve not seen them out or managed a game properly.

“It was good to win our last away game at Blackpool, especially as Blackpool have been doing well all season and had a great home record. It was great to get that victory and the three points because it meant that we went into the international break on good terms.”

Photo: Action Images

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