Steve's Positive

Steve Bywater says he is concentrating on his performances between the sticks rather than worrying about contract talks.

Steve's contract is up at the end of the season, and he reveals:

"The manager pulled me in last week and he said that we had to sort something out.

"I think my advisors have a meeting arranged this week so hopefully we can get something sorted out by the end of the season.

"But it is not on my mind anyway because if you have got nothing you have got nothing to worry about!"

Steve, as ever, is more concerned with the club as a whole than his personal circumstances, and he was delighted with the victory over Gillingham on Saturday.

"We needed a win and it was important; we had to bounce back from the week before, which was a disappointing performance where we should have done better," he says.

"We had loads of chances but their keeper has made some really good saves and kept them in the game.

"We put the pressure on and were closing them down right from the word 'go'.

"It was a long week, with a long two nights thinking about the game on Sunday and Monday.

"But we had to knuckle down, concentrate on the game against Gillingham, and we re-organised ourselves for that.

"We did a job and got the three points which I think we deserved.

"The manager told us to forget about Millwall; we actually watched the game on video and picked out things that we weren't doing so well.

"It was a learning process and we had to show the fans we could do well and hopefully get promoted."

As for that battle to go up, Steve adds:

"We are just going to keep going and hopefully we will be ready for the play-offs, if we make them.

"We are still thinking about the top two because football can be a strange game - hopefully we can keep going and keep pushing."

Alan Pardew faces his old club Reading on Saturday and Steve adds:

"He should know what their team is about, and they are pushing for promotion themselves."

Steve is enjoying getting a run of games under his belt and he adds:

"I am playing every week and grateful for that; it is about keeping your concentration and Ludo has helped me a lot with his coaching.

"He is keeping me on my toes and sharp."

As for working with Pavel Srnicek, who is on board until at least the summer, Steve adds:

"He is good to work with and we all get on together."