Rotherham United forward Sam Nombe believes recent performances under new head coach Leam Richardson have showcased the kind of battling credentials that can see the Millers climb out of the drop zone to retain their second tier status this season.
The Christmas period saw Nombe and his teammates go undefeated in league action against Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers to collect five points and boost their fight for Sky Bet Championship survival.
Nombe, who has shown notable signs of growth in his own performances since making the money move from Exeter City, believes the old adage of ‘taking it one game at a time’ will be paramount in terms of mindset for Rotherham United, who he also insists must focus on themselves rather than sides involved elsewhere in the picture at the foot of the table.
"I feel like we're resilient and we're showing our fight and character,” he told www.themillers.co.uk.
"We have to keep showing that. We have to keep going out there with a belief that we can match anybody in the league and our minimum requirement if we can't win is to at least draw.
"I think the character and belief in the group has been there for everyone to see in recent games. Now when if we concede, there's a mindset within the team whereby we know we can get back into the game and keep pushing to try and win."
"You can only look at the next game. I think if you look too far forwards, you can be distracted from the task at-hand. You can only focus on your own results because ultimately they matter before anybody else's. If we do that and get the points we will close that gap quickly.”
With a home clash with Stoke City next up on the agenda for Richardson’s men, Nombe pointed to the club’s solid form at AESSEAL New York Stadium as a platform on which they can continue to build, whilst also adding that points on the road will need to come more readily if they are to stay up.
"Our home form is good. We know it can be better and we still not to collect maximum points more often at AESSEAL New York Stadium - and our points return on the road is something we're well-aware of,” he continued.
"We know how we can impose ourselves on a game at home and we're confident that we can do that again this weekend."
He concluded by discussing how he and his teammates have adapted to life under new boss Richardson, who he reserved praise for in the early part of their time working together.
"We're all getting used to how the manager wants to play and looking to show our best qualities,” Nombe added.
"Different managers have different styles of play and the new gaffer has been good with us all and he's helped me a lot.”