Irvine sets sights on top six finish

15 February 2009 09:38
Jon Parkin's fifth goal of the campaign sealed the points and stretched North End's unbeaten home run to nine matches on the bounce.[LNB]Irvine said: "Teams have got games in hand, so you have to expect that our position will change, but it is a lovely position to be in at the moment.[LNB]"If we could just stop the league right now that would be OK.[LNB]"It would be something freakish if (53 points) was not enough to make sure we are in the league next year.[LNB]"I don't know yet what the next target will be that I set. I would not think about it until we got there.[LNB]"We have 13 games left and I'll certainly have a target for myself. Whether I decide to make the players aware of that or not will be dependent on what their frame of mind is.[LNB]"Goals work well as long as you are ahead of your targets. The problem you have is that if you fall behind it can actually work against you.[LNB]"I'll be very careful of any target I make the players aware of.[LNB]"I don't talk to them about promotion. We are taking it bit by bit and hope we do well enough.[LNB]"We are in a fantastic position. There are a lot of clubs who are very close to us.[LNB]"At the end of this month we'll have a really good idea of what chance we have of promotion."[LNB]Norwich boss Bryan Gunn saw his men remain fifth bottom in the Championship. They have now lost two out of the six games since he took over.[LNB]Gunn said: "I'm disappointed not to get anything from the game. I thought we were the better team for 42 minutes in the first half.[LNB]"We had a sort of mad spell for three minutes just before half-time where we gave away needless free-kicks on the edge of the box and maybe missed a few clearances. We put ourselves under pressure.[LNB]"In the second half I don't think there was much in it at all. We were obviously trying to push to get something back.[LNB]"We didn't give in against a team who are in top form in the top six of the Championship.[LNB]"Attitude and commitment are going to be crucial in the games that are remaining. There will be a need to work hard for each other.[LNB]"That doesn't just apply to the players, but the coaching staff as well. We are all in it together. We are all sink or swim.[LNB]"I'm not a negative thinker at all. It's a lucky 13 games we are looking for, not an unlucky 13."[LNB]The Canaries boss reckoned that his side should have had a penalty when Wes Hoolahan went down in the box in the second half.[LNB]"If it was outside the box a ref would probably give a foul. If it's in the box it's a penalty.[LNB]"When you are in the bottom six those decisions don't go for you. When you are in the top six they do."[LNB][LNB]

Source: Team_Talk