Richie Smallwood has revealed “the confidence is growing” after Tranmere’s recent form sees them only four points away from the play-offs.
Rovers are unbeaten in four games in League Two, including a last-minute winner at Grimsby and a 3-0 domination of Barrow last time out. Next up is Crewe at Prenton Park on Saturday and Smallwood believes there has been a change in atmosphere around the club during the recent run.
He said: “Yeah, it does feel like something’s changed and what has changed is results. We felt the result against Grimsby scoring in the last minute there was just huge for confidence within the group and obviously we’re on a little bit of a good run.
“So long may that continue. But at the end of the day the best thing for the group is obviously winning games and we’ve managed to do some of them in the last few weeks.”
Tranmere currently sit 15th in the table but only four points away from seventh place.
With a run of three games against teams in a similar position, Smallwood says it is an important Christmas period that could help define Tranmere’s season.
He said: “It’s always an important stage at the Christmas period, there’s a lot of games. It’s quite busy, especially with the fixtures that we’ve got. We are taking it game by game, but we know that the teams in and around us are coming up.
“We’re just going to focus on Saturday, hopefully get the job done and then see where that takes us and just move on to the next one, and that’ll be another big game in terms of positions in the league so one we can look forward to after Saturday.”
With the league positions being so close, the club captain is urging the players to take it one game at a time.
He said: “Everyone looks wherever they want to look. I just tend to concentrate and try and drill it into the lads that the next game is the most important.
“Some weeks you move three places, some weeks you don’t move and it’s just whatever. You can’t control what other teams do, what you can control is what you do and what we do.
“So that’s what we’re going to try and do, and then wherever it takes us it takes us. If it’s closer to the playoffs, that’s obviously brilliant.”
Smallwood says he is enjoying his football and is looking to keep hold of his place in the team.
He said: “I’m just enjoying any game that I’m that I’m playing at the moment, I’m feeling better and better.
“I hopefully will keep the shirt for as long as possible, that’s what I always try and strive to do, get in the team and stay in the team and work towards the next game, give everything to the next game and then work towards long term.”
