MATTY Taylor has warned Wanderers they cannot afford to rest on their laurels after climbing into the top half of the table.
The in-form midfielder, who has overcome a slight thigh strain to put himself into contention for Saturday’s game against Chelsea, insists the squad will not get carried away after registering four wins in their last five games.
Gary Megson’s side could climb into the top six with a win at the weekend – although to do so, they would have to shatter the best away record in the country.
Taylor is keeping his feet on the ground with whispers of another assault on the European places already starting to emerge.
“We have put a decent run together and we’ve got quite a few points now,” the 27-year-old said.
“But it’s important that we keep doing the same things we have been doing because it’s going to be very tight this year.
“There isn’t going to be anyone cast aside this year and I’d be very surprised if the 38 points we accumulated last season will be enough to keep us up this season.
“First and foremost we must get to that magic and elusive 40-point mark, and then move on from there but, if we carry on going as we have been of late, then it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.”
Megson is now in contention to win November’s manager of the month award – a far cry from the opening weeks of the season when even his own club’s fans were calling for his head.
Taylor has credited his manager for turning round Wanderers’ fortunes and, even with title-chasing Chelsea on the horizon, believes the club can continue their run of form into the New Year.
“The manager has touched on it lately a bit, but sometimes we don’t give ourselves enough credit,” he said. “We’ve played most teams in this league now and I haven’t seen too much to scare us bar the usual big guns. It’s going to be a difficult year, but we know everyone who plays us is going to be in for a tough game.
“We’ve done well away from home and, if we can put a few wins together at home, then we can silence a few people and keep a few people quiet.”
He also praised the spirit of the dressing room at the Reebok, which remained high even through the turmoil earlier in the season.
“We don’t have any so-called bad eggs or clicks within the group and that’s important,” Taylor said.
“For me, it’s one of the best, if not the best, dressing room I’ve been involved in terms of everybody sticking together – and, at the moment, in football there’s a lot going on in the press about people not sticking together.”
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