Fit-again Toto Nsiala has admitted that Town should be looking to collect all three points and make it back-to-back wins under boss Paul Cook for the first time when Fleetwood visit Portman Road tomorrow.

The Blues followed up last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Cambridge with a tremendous 4-0 victory on Tuesday at Portsmouth in a game that marked Nsiala’s first league start since the 2-2 opening-day draw with Morecambe and saw them climb to within five points of the League One play-off places.

Asked if they should be thinking in terms of another three points, Nsiala replied: “We have to. It’s a game that we really have to get something out of and three points would be massive, especially coming on the back of our win at Portsmouth. It would make it a far better week.

“If we don’t beat Fleetwood the win at Portsmouth won’t look so big. We want a good run of results, a good amount of points and to get up the table closer to where we want to be. We really need to start pushing on now.

“Honestly, with the squad we’ve got and the quality of players we have we need to be higher in the league.

“It’s a joke, when you look at our bench on Tuesday, for example, we had players who are capable of destroying other teams, so we really need to be winning games and Saturday is a day when we should be thinking about picking up three points.”

Nsiala is not only delighted to be back to peak fitness but also to have regained his place in Cook’s starting line-up and recalled how he felt when he was forced off with hamstring trouble just 38 minutes into the very first game of the new campaign.

He said: “It was basically a case of something that happened before happening again and I was thinking ‘Here we go again’.

“The season before last I got injured in the pre-season trip to Germany and it was a long time back with the very same injury. Then, when I did come back, I wasn’t quite match fit and I had a few issues.

“It was in the back of my mind but, obviously, my faith stayed strong. I prayed and, glory to God, everything has come through and I’ve been alright. But it’s been great to have the support of the people around me at the club. It’s completely different now to what it was two years ago.

“I’m talking in terms of the staff and the backroom team who work so hard to get us back to fitness. There’s more to it, it’s a lot more professional and there are more people around to keep a close eye on us and make sure we’re well, not just physically but also mentally, which has helped me a lot.”

Nsiala stressed the importance of his relationship with manager Cook, adding: “I’ve known, oops, I was nearly going to call him Cookie there, the gaffer since I was 17 or 18.

“I’m a different player to what I was back then — I’m more of a man now — but the gaffer just wants the best for his players. He’s not just a manager, he’s also a carer.

“Outside of football he’s someone who truly cares for his players and will have our back. We’re hoping we can do the same for him, really, by working hard and getting results.

“The relationship between me and the gaffer? Honestly, it’s great. Don’t get me wrong, there have been times when we’ve fallen out and argued, but we always hug it out. We never part on bad terms, we have a hug and that’s the way it has always been.”

Reflecting on his time at Portman since arriving from Shrewsbury in the summer of 2018, he continued: “For me it has been an up and down time here, what with Paul Hurst and Paul Lambert as managers and a lot of players coming and going.

“It’s just something you get used to as a player; you’ve just got to believe in yourself and carry on working hard and keep your head down. What happens will happen but in my experience people who work hard and show a passion for what they are doing tend to end up doing well and kicking on.

“I’m hoping that’s what happens with me and the other players who have stayed with the club so long.”

Nsiala also explained his thinking with regard to the practice of taking the knee, which has become a global symbol of fighting racism since first performed by American sports star Colin Kaepernick over five years ago.

The black San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback first decided to sit rather than stand during the national anthem, then later knelt as a protest against racial injustice and police brutality towards African Americans, which not only became a major talking point but was reproduced by sports teams on a global basis.

But Nsiala, who has decided to stand while others take the knee before kick-off, commented: “It’s a thing that I can’t really be taking seriously anymore. With referees, before we go out for the game they’ll ask if we’re taking the knee or not but it should be something that is set in stone that we are taking the knee.

“Also, I see taking the knee as a sign of submission. We’re taking the knee to racism when really we should be standing up to it. The reason the American footballers took the knee was because of the national anthem and they didn’t want to be a part of it.

“For me it just doesn’t seem right, taking the knee. Going back into slavery and racism, taking the knee is submission to someone that is higher than you. I don’t believe in it, I believe in standing up against it together.”

When it was suggested that more has to happen, Nsiala added: “Yes, a lot more. Literally a lot more. The first week of the season, a lot was taken seriously, but through the season it’s just died off. It’s now a choice that referees have. Make it something that has to be set in stone — either we are taking the knee or we’re not doing it.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Eddie1985 added 07:31 - Oct 22 Good luck to you toto, when you got loaned to Bolton it seemed you were finished but you have survived that and survived the demolition man and you are probably the sort of defender we need in this division, your attitude seems first class, people say you have a mistake in you but honestly, in football and in life, who doesn't? Let's hope we lick on as you say COYB
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Europablue added 07:49 - Oct 22 Nsiala is a legend. He has quietly gone about his business and returned from injury, waited for his chance, and grabbed it with both feet. Also, he has the strength of character to decide not to kneel for very understandable reasons.
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Bazza8564 added 07:51 - Oct 22 Fabulous to see Toto back, fit and competing. He adds strength and depth to our squad options which is going to be important as injuries inevitably take their toll. The togetherness with this group is obvious and seems to be building game on game. Three points tomorrow? You nailed it, we need to build on results like Portsmouth not stutter the way we have before. Blue Army !

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Barty added 07:58 - Oct 22 Well done and 3 points is a must
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Nobbysnuts added 08:15 - Oct 22 Toto is a legend in my opinion for more than one reason.
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Guthrum added 09:00 - Oct 22 He may be a legend, but his mistake-making is largely a myth, based only on a couple of things which happened a season or two ago - since when he's been extremely solid at his main job, which is keeping the ball out of our own goal. Very glad he's back fit and in the squad again. 'Good block from Toto' - Brenner Woolley, lots of times last season.
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Bert added 09:18 - Oct 22 Toto was in bits when he realised he had tweaked his hamstring again and the crowd nearby showed their sympathy and support for the big man. Did we expect him to survive the cull, probably not. Am I pleased he has come back from last year a better and more assured player; you bet I am ! His opinions about taking the knee show a mature understanding of the nuances of symbolic gestures. Personally, I am pleased that most teams continue to show their unity whether they stand up to racism or take the knee. Just like climate change, there are some things in this world that must change.

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bluewarrior added 09:31 - Oct 22 I like Toto and on occasions he can be a tower of strength; very good in the air and strong on the deck whereas Burgess, although terrific in the air, has got knocked off the ball too many times - very noticeably at Cambridge. There is still a big BUT about Toto - he hesitates on the ball sometimes - at least twice against Pompey and were they to have been sharper on the night then we would be in trouble. He's also not decisive when team mates are around him and there were a couple of aimless hoofs into the stands in Tuesday that you would not really expect from a pro footballer. He is tall, strong and powerful but looks way behind Edmundson. If Cook/Reid could coach the concentration levels into Woolfie, he would be my preferred choice.

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Europablue added 09:32 - Oct 22 Guthrum There is definitely an argument that a few players could be labelled as mistake-makers based on a few performances. It was only a while ago that people were making fun of us for how Bonne missed that open goal.
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Europablue added 09:39 - Oct 22 Bert I love how your comment on climate change can be interpreted as we need to do something about climate change and at the same time climate change is a necessary change. I can't really fault the club when it comes to dealing with racism, they seem pretty measured. Whilst I don't agree with taking the knee for the same reasons as Toto, it's good that the club let the players make their own choice, and I'm very happy to see that no-one is pressurizing Toto to take the knee and he's not trying to compell the other players from doing it either.

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Cakeman added 10:01 - Oct 22 Toto is one of the nice guys who I'm sure all our supporters would like to see do well. He has come through some difficult times at the club and had to battle hard with the out of depth Paul Hurst and seemingly Paul Lambert who wasn't too keen on Toto as a player. It was interesting to read that in his opinion it's completely different to what it was two years ago! I wonder just how bad it was then with a mix of management who lost their way and a squad with some players who were just too comfortable and in my opinion just going through the motions. Keep battling Toto because we can only get promoted with people showing your commendable attitude.

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DavoIPB added 10:05 - Oct 22 Does what a defender needs to do. Stops the opposition scoring goals, who cares if he can't pass the ball well. Doesn't need to in this league.
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Cadiar added 12:40 - Oct 22 Some interesting things from Toto especially about the relationship with PC. Can't imagine Lambert giving a player a hug after an argument. Toto is a pretty intelligent guy & he can play piano, bet there's some fun in the team hotel if there's a piano available.
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