Blues boss Mick McCarthy is pleased that Town’s fate is in their own hands going into the final two games of the season.

McCarthy's sixth-placed side are three points ahead of Brentford and Wolves in seventh and eighth going into the final two games of the season, today's home match against Nottingham Forest and next Saturday's visit to Blackburn.

“I think it’s great for it to be in our own hands,” he said. “It adds that bit of spice, a bit of pressure to it that we can do it, it’s down to us, our performances no matter what happens anywhere else. If we win both games it’s done.

“But they’re two tough games, it’s easier said than done. Nottingham Forest at home and Blackburn away, I never thought they were the easiest fixtures in the world.”

McCarthy admits that it would be a huge disappointment to miss out on the play-offs given the Blues' current position.

“Absolutely,” he said. “It would be bitterly disappointing and seen as a failure on my part now if we didn’t get in it. So we better make sure we do.”

He anticipates the issue going to the final game at Ewood Park rather than Brentford and Wolves’ opponents Reading and Wigan doing the Blues any favours today.

“Utopia! I can visualise it but I don’t imagine it’ll happen for one minute," he said. "I think we’ll go to Blackburn and it’ll be tense up there.”

Despite having publicly targeted a play-off place back in August, McCarthy says he was never put under any pressure to make the top six by owner Marcus Evans.

“Not at all, no,” he added. “I was under pressure from myself. And the players, we all put ourselves on the spot and set the bar high that we want to at least be in the play-offs.

“Whether that was realistic when we started and people looked us, as they did when I said that in here, but you’ve got to aim for it.

“If we get in the top six and win through the play-offs we will have earned it, like whoever wins this league and finishes second.

“It’s been an exceptionally tough season for all of us. There have been some really great teams in it, it’s been a great scrap.”

He admits that he thinks about how life might be for the Blues in the Premier League: “Loads. I guess you do that at every club wherever you are, you’re thinking what it would be like, but to really start thinking about it you’ve got to be giving yourselves a chance.

“We have given ourselves a chance because then when you do you don’t want to think about it or dream about it because it’s almost like you’re putting the mockers on it.

“It’s a strange existence, we want to get where we are, then we don’t want to think about it when we are where we are because the prize is so huge and the prestige for the club that comes with it. It’s a just a fabulous feeling. I hope we get the chance to feel it again.”

He’s not sure the players spend too much time talking about the possibility of becoming Premier League players, however.

“I don’t think so, I don’t sit in and listen to their chat,” he added. “We all know what’s at stake and what these two games mean to the club, to the fans and to ourselves individually. We’re all very self-aware, but I don’t think they go around talking about.

“Before a game we know what’s at stake - we want to get in the play-offs. Then it becomes a real lottery, any one of four of us given a fair wind and a slice of luck can get there.

“We’re all aware of it, but we don’t go around talking about it, although I do because I come in here and I get asked!”

McCarthy is remaining typically grounded ahead of today’s match and not thinking too far ahead.

“You know me after nearly three years, my feet are firmly planted on the floor and I’m absolutely living in the moment,” he continued.

“We can only deal with what we’ve got to deal with and that’s the game against Nottingham Forest, who are a very good squad of players and on their day they can be a very good team. It’s how we play and we’ve got to deal with that and let them worry about us.

“It’s a culmination of a thrilling ride, of this whole season. We’re getting to the end and I would hope that there is a big crowd for us and I would hope that our fans have seen performances and a season that they can be happy with and proud of.

“But we’ve got that extra job to do now, we’ve got to get in the play-offs. And let’s hope we can achieve it together, us and the fans.”

He added: “We’ve got ourselves into a really good position. Isn’t it great that people are really excited about it, anticipating a big crowd and what might be?

“Isn’t that what going to football’s all about? Hoping and anticipating that your team is going to be successful?

“What constitutes a successful season? There are only something like 18 teams that can win something. Start with the Premier League, the champions and then there’s the Champions League and then the cups.

“Then there are three teams from our league, three teams and four teams from the divisions below. Work it out.

“If winning something is deemed a successful season, what’s that 18 trophies to play for in terms of getting promoted?

“So there are a helluva lot of teams who are not successful every year, aren’t there? I think what dictates what’s a successful season, surely it’s that the fans turn up thinking they’re going to watch a good game, they’ve got a good team, they’ve got a chance of winning and they’re excited about it.

“If that’s the case, so far we’ve had a successful season. To have a really successful season we’ve got to then go the extra bit and make sure we end up in the play-offs.”

Photo: Action Images

Paulblue62 added 09:02 - Apr 25 It is in our hands and we totally trust you not to mess it up Mick. Get the 3 points today and we can all go to Blackburn for a pre play-off party.
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