Centre-half Christophe Berra says he was just making sure when he added the final touch to Town’s fourth goal in Saturday’s 4-1 home victory over Leeds United. Berra’s central defensive partner Tommy Smith thought it was his goal but replays confirmed that the Scot smashed home just before the ball had crossed the line.
"I don’t think Tommy was too chuffed but I wasn’t sure it was going in, it could have hit the post and spun wide so I was just making sure,” he said. "Great credit to Tommy though, it was a terrific header.
"I scored a couple at the back post last season so I always look to go there and it is a guaranteed two or three goals a season for me.
"If I can keep that ratio going for the rest of the season that would be great. We are a threat from set pieces and not many teams like defending against us as we have so many big guys up there.”
Berra says the Blues felt Leeds striker Mirco Antenucci might have been offside in the build-up to the Whites’ fourth-minute opener.
"We felt the striker was initially five yards offside but the ball went wide and he stayed there for the tap-in,” he said.
Smith heads goalwards "But our reaction was superb, that was probably our best performance of the season at home. No one could have complained if we had scored two or three more." He added: "We were on the front foot all the time. Even the substitutions were attack-minded. We have a great team spirit and when we have had injuries and suspension, people have come in and done a great job. Daryl is on fire and is a major threat. He is big, quick and powerful. "We have been doing a lot of shooting in training and I don’t mind that. Hopefully we will be doing more shooting this week. "As a defender I enjoy that and it has certainly paid off for the strikers as well. The strikers are always doing it but we were all doing it and it has paid dividends.” Reflecting on Town’s current position, the 29-year-old continued: "It is great to be second and just a point off the top but there are still 26 games to go, we are not even halfway through the season, so we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground. "These are good times right now and I’m sure there will be many more, but there could also be bad times at points and it will be how we deal with that as well. "At the moment we just take all this with a pinch of salt and take every game as it comes and look for three points every game. "It is vital we don’t get carried away, the fans have been brilliant and are enjoying it but it is all about small margins in this league.” Berra, who along with Stephen Hunt was part of the Wolves side which won the Championship under Mick McCarthy in 2008/09, says everyone knows what the manager requires of them. "The club spent a lot of money before on big name players with big wages but it didn’t get results,” he continued. "Now there is a smaller budget but we have a good team spirit and the team’s going well. "As players we know what Mick demands. Everyone in the club knows what is expected and he has brought a real togetherness. He is a nice guy but not someone you want to get on the wrong side of. "It is a tough, tough league and I know from experience promotion with him before that it is the togetherness that gets you through.”
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