Relegation ? – Not Going To Happen

City again shifted things around for the home game with Crystal Palace, including giving debuts to both new strikers Jon Parkin and Daryl Duffy but he saw his new look side slip to another worrying defeat – which has now left us four points above the relegation zone.

Taylor said: ‘We lost against Palace because we conceded two poor goals early doors. After that, I thought we did ok against a good team and maybe we could have got something.

‘I said to the players that we are not that far away. I know the position in the league is disappointing and I know we are in a scrap, but I also know in my own mind that we are good enough.

‘I’ve got absolutely no doubt that we will stay up. We are having problems at the minute, but don’t forget our last four matches have been against incredibly good teams.’

City moved clear of the drop-zone after a good set of home results but a poor run over the hectic Christmas period has seen the Tigers slip back into contention for the drop.

Taylor should have added a left-back to the squad by the away game at Stoke, and was happy with how his new strikers coped.

Taylor added: ‘Jon was outstanding. He took his goal really well and although it was a tough game, he kept going.

‘I was pleased with Daryl. He only had half an hour, but he showed everybody that he will score goals.’

City looked like they lacked belief early on, and it may be that which will get us into trouble. It is a problem Taylor knows he must address and fast.

He said: ‘I thought that after we scored our goal, we believed we could get something, although I’m not so sure we believed that when we first started the match.

‘Their first goal, and I’m saying it every week, was disappointing. In every way it was a bad goal for us. It put us on the back foot. We wanted to get after the opposition, but they’ve got quick strikers so it wasn’t easy.

‘Then, they got a second goal and that left us with a mountain to climb. Jon’s goal got us back in it, but you can’t give quality sides like Palace two goals start.’

What will the future hold. Hopefully some more points, but lets get behind the team for the remainder of the season. If we have faith in them to keep us up, they will start to have faith and belief in themselves. If we all act like doom and gloom, it will only serve for an adverse affect and we could end up in greater trouble.