Show/hide article…
FEARLESS Josh Sims admits he’s playing without inhibitions in a troubled period for Saints, and has urged his team-mates to use the FA Cup quarter-final at Wigan to power into the rest of the campaign.
Saints are currently struggling in the Premier League, one point off the relegation zone, and face League One Latics in Mark Hughes’ first game in charge, having replaced Mauricio Pellegrino with the experienced Welshman this week.
The 20-year-old wideman knows the FA Cup can be a big springboard for the rest of the campaign and is relishing making a further impact.
“It’s a massive game in such a big competition. It takes the edge of the Premier League when we’re in this competition," he said.
“We’ve got far, played well, so we need to take confidence into this game. We need to take that confidence and how far we’ve got in the cup into the Premier League.
“It’s nice we’re still in this competition because it takes your mind off of it.
“For example the game against Wigan it’s a different competition and we’ve played well in it so far, so we can take that confidence back into the Premier League.”
Sims has had an increasing impact of late as Saints bid to avoid the drop.
The academy graduate came on in the 68th minute against Burnley last month and turned Saints’ performance around with an energetic and positive display, helping set up Manolo Gabbiadini for an equaliser in the final minute.
He subsequently made his first start of the season in the goalless draw against Stoke, putting a decent display, before Pellegrino put him on the bench in his final game in charge – the miserable 3-0 defeat to Newcastle.
“As a young player I’ve not experienced the same things as others have,” he said.
“For me, it’s difficult because I’ve not been in this situation before so I can look at it both ways.
“I can be fearless in that way, I don’t know any different. I’ve only been in the first team a short amount of time, so I can take that as a positive and not worry about as much from a personal perspective, not to worry about the situation we’re in.
"I just need to keep playing and take that kind of fearless mindset into the games.”
Sims is desperate to make a further impact and with Hughes now at the helm has urged Saints to show ‘fight and desire’.
“It ultimately comes down to us on the pitch. When we cross that white line we need to play well and get the points,” he said.
“It’s all well and good with tactics and the technical side of it, but when you’re over the white line you need to want it and have the fight and desire to get the result because that’s what will keep us up."
He added: “Everyone involved in this club wants us to stay up that’s the big, big target now.
"We need to do that in whatever way possible. It’s good we’re still in the cup, it’s a big competition and it’ll create a good atmosphere if we can do well in the game against Wigan.
"But the big objective is to stay in the Premier League.”
Wigan have beaten West Ham, Bournemouth and Manchester City to reach the last eight and Sims is wary of the challenge they pose.
“Everyone’s seen the result against City on TV, and that’s a massive achievement to beat City who are flying in the Premier League,” he said.
“It’s not going to be easy and we know that. When you get to this stages it’s not going to be easy whoever you face.
“They’ve beaten three Premier League teams, but we’ll do our work exploit their weaknesses.”
Go to the original article…
...disorganizedly given birth to by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!
(0-0)
| 
minute mark!
