Nottingham Forest head coach Steve Cooper has spoken to talkSPORT host Jim White about the Reds' current Premier League plight.
Cooper previewed the upcoming game against Southampton, and also took a head-on approach to talking difficult questions about his future, Evangelos Marinakis and the club's away form.
Below is a look at everything Cooper had to say ahead of Monday's crunch clash between Forest and Southampton.
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Southampton must-win or do not lose?
"We want to win. We're treating it as a must-win because we have to have that menality. There's no doubt as these games are getting ticked off, the scrutiny, the tension and the spotlight is increasing.
"We're pretty open amongst the group in talking about that and trying to visualise and trying to see it not in a negative way. Let's try and play in these atmospheres and these contexts around the games with a can-do mentality and think about what can be achieved."
Did you pinpoint this fixture as a points-winner?
"It's never as straightforward as that. There's been loads of games this year where you're thinking maybe you're coming up against this team at a good time, and it never proves to be that way. There's other times where we've had some positive results and thought we'll back ourselves, but knew it was going to be tough and we've managed to get a good result. It's never as straightforward as predicting, especially in this league. Every game is a real challenge.
"You look at the last two games we played, Brentford and Brighton, two very different teams but equally as tough an opponent. Southampton will be no different. Analysing them as you do when you prepare for a game, they have had some really good moments in games, there's no doubt about that. They've taken the lead on a lot of occasions, everybody saw the Arsenal game because of when it was played. We've got to be more than ready for this game."
What's your reaction to Sam Allardyce joining Leeds?
"I'm not thinking about it too much, to be fair. We're just focusing on ourselves and it's the time of the season where there's even more reason to do that.
"Of course what happens elsewhere can have an effect on us and other teams can say that, but in the end it's about what we do - that's going to determine what the season ends up looking like. We're just focusing on ourselves."
Does Allardyce change the dynamic of the run-in?
"It doesn't for us because we don't play them. We're in a similar league position and we're looking to do the same thing, but we don't know. Respectfully, we're not going to spend too much time thinking about others. When you're thinking about others, you're not thinking about yourselves and that's counter-productive.
"We're all-in on the job in hand, we're not thinking about anything else apart from Southampton. We're very much now in preparation mode from Brentford to Southampton is feeling like an age, because it's a Saturday to Monday wait, but we're committing to the plan we've put in place.
"One thing that's been a constant this year, there's been a real connection among the players and the training ground staff. With all that might have been said about lots of new players and doing something quite unique, i've got to say we've built a real strong togetherness among the group. That's helped so far, after difficult results and we've never got too high when we've won a game or two. We're going to need that togetherness going forward as well, that's for sure."
Doubts over future impacted you?
"I hope it hasn't impacted on the players because that can never be a good thing, unless in a positive way.
"I genuinely don't think about it. All I want to do is my best. I think I've been pretty open in how connected I feel to this club and how important its become to me. When you feel about something like I do about Nottingham Forest, all you think about is what's right for the club.
"Whatever good that we've done in the 18 months or so, it's always been about the collaborative and the greater good of the club. It's never been about any individuals and I don't think that way, I never have done.
"I probably don't think about it as much as maybe it's sometimes talked about or mentioned, that's an honest answer. The only thing that matters to me is, first and foremost, giving my best every day and trying to be the best I can be. And hoping the club can achieve what it wants to do."
How would you describe your relationship with Evangelos Marinakis?
"It's been exactly the same from when I joined the club to where I am now, in terms of the amount of contact and communication I have with him and lots of other people that are involved as well.
"Nothing's really changed. We have sporting directors, executive people based in Nottingham, so that's something that's been pretty constant and cinsistent from day one to where I am now.
"The most important thing for me is giving my best every day and trying to get the players and staff to be exactly the same, and trying to work at the level required. We really believe in what we do.
"Of course, and rightly so, results will always paint narratives and that's football. That's what's brilliant about it. You'll never get away from that.
"What we've got to do is continue to stick to believing in what we do and how we do it, and of course adapting and trying to evolve along the way. In the situation we're in now, everyone knows what's there to be played for. More than ever, you've got to focus on what you're in control of and that's our every day work."
Why have you been such a different team away from home?
"I respect the question, it's quite an obvious one to ask because of the differentiation between home and away. It's something that, after the season, we have to have a big reflection on.
"The obvious answer has been our supporters. I've got to say, they've been equally as good away from home and we've given them very little for the amount of money they've spent and the hours they've given up.
"It pains me to think that we've given them so little. The support home and away - naturally there's more at home - has been uncondictional. Nobody has left the stadium, whether we're winning, losing or drawing a game, it's been so consistently good. We don't take it for granted, we're not entitled by it. We're just really grateful for it because the supporters at time have felt probably different to what they've actually shown. That's not always the case, as we know, partcularly in the situation we've been in.
"For sure, when the season's finished, it's something we have to do a big relefction on. But at the moment, we're right in the mix of trying to win some games to get the points we need. We've got to stay honed in on that and pick up that stuff at a different time."
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