Centre-half Christophe Berra hailed Saturday’s winner as perhaps the most important goal he has scored in his two seasons with the Blues after the 3-2 victory over Blackpool.

The Scotland international nodded home Daryl Murphy’s cross with seven minutes remaining to secure the three points and propel the Blues back into the top six.

“It is possibly my most important goal. It reminded me of my goal against Derby last season with the same celebration down the same end of the pitch,” the 30-year-old said.

“It was good to get the winning goal and it was a massive three points for us. We had nothing to gain and everything to lose and Blackpool have been doing better lately.

“They may think they have scored two good goals but on our behalf they were two poor goals to concede, down to poor defending.

“That’s football. It is the business end of the season and mistakes are going to be made with nervy moments. It is all about looking forward.”

He says games at this time of a campaign can sometimes feel more tense than they should: “The atmosphere perhaps makes it seem more edgy than it actually is.

“If you watch the game at home the next day it is not so edgy but the atmosphere makes it seem edgy because there is so much to play for.

“Then again, if there was not much to play for then it would be different and the pressure is on us. We’ve beaten last year’s total of 68 points so it is progress.

“We have seen how many games go to the last minute and we will carry on doing that, to the last minute of the last game.

“It would be great to secure a play-off place with a game to go but that’s not the way things work and this league is so competitive. It is between us Brentford, Wolves and Derby for that final sixth place.”

He says chasing a goal in the closing stages of a game such as Saturday’s isn’t comfortable for a defender used to trying to keep things tight, but he was delighted to add to his season’s total.

“It may be all right if you are a striker or attacker but for us defenders it is not ideal because we have to push forward and leave space behind us and no defender likes that.

“I have six goals now and that’s not bad for a centre-half. Hopefully with four, maybe seven, games to go I can add to that.”

Photo: Action Images

phil_itfc_brown added 07:10 - Apr 13 Berra is the best CB in Championship! I am surprised no Prem team has been in for him..
4

bluefeast added 08:35 - Apr 13 Theere will be in the summer I'm sure...
3

SheffieldBlue1 added 09:42 - Apr 13 I think for us, luckily, Berra has all the strengths needed to be an excellent CB in the championship, but his comparative lack of pace will put off most Premier League clubs. That's not to say however, I can't see a Championship side with a bit of cash coming in for him. As teams like Nottingham Forest, Fulham and a couple of others throw silly money at transfers, more money at this stage of his career could turn his head. Hopefully not though.

0

michael99 added 10:25 - Apr 13 Sheffield blue 1, berra has plenty of pace rarely have I seen him beaten, ,however smith and chambo get done every game (although chambo when playing cb can read it well and doesn't get caught out but is exposed at r., smith, well there is no excuse he is just snail pace)
1

bluefeast added 14:47 - Apr 13 Smith should of been taken out of the side 10 matches ago , with Chambers moving to centre back. Smith looks like a rabbit in the headlights now ,his confidence ebbing away game by game. MM is a great manager in so many ways ,but this defensive issue has me baffled. Clearly MM knows more than all of us put together ,and he also sees the players each day ,but Chambers is probably the worse right back in the league and about the 10 th best centre half. So the MM where can i find better than I've got issue of this season does not wash I'm afraid.

1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls