Birmingham City captain Marc Roberts previews Bournemouth: ‘We are improving’

Birmingham City defender and stand in captain Marc Roberts says it’s clear the team’s performances have been improving in recent weeks but they need to be able to maintain a certain level over 90 minutes.

The Blues held a winning position after an hour in both of their last two contests against Derby County and Sheffield United respectively but have just one point to show for their efforts.

High-flying Bournemouth are next on the agenda and after a disappointing cup exit to Boreham Wood on Sunday, you just know they are going to want to punish any sniff Lee Bowyer’s men give them.

Roberts is well aware of the challenge ahead, though, and believes the Blues have what it takes to get a result.

“They’ve got good players but I feel like we’re a match for anyone on our day,” he explained.

“But we’ve got to turn up and we’ve got to turn up for 90 minutes.

“That seems to be slipping us at the minute. We cant keep turning up for 70 or 80 minutes, that’s where the good teams will punish you. They will keep coming and keep coming, we just have to see the game out.

“We are improving in areas, I think you can see that and we just have to keep going and working on those things and work on the game management side.

“We’ve got to go there with the belief that we can win and I think we can and get something out of the game.

“On our day I think we’re a match for anyone but it’s just taking a bit of ownership.

“The gaffer can’t do much about that, that’s us on the pitch. It’s got to be all 11 of us on the pitch that take a bit of ownership in their game and everyone else’s game. Dragging people through results and that’s the only way we’re going to see these games out.”

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