One common theme throughout this season is the large amount of optimism and positivity even after ‘disappointing’ results. Despite dropping points it’s clear to see that we deserve to be in this league, and we haven’t looked out of place at all.
Even with our first game back in the league in four years we pushed a proven Championship side and almost walked away with all three points. If it wasn’t for a decent strike from outside the area we’d have won the game, and we deserved to. Coventry finished last year in 12th, and we looked strong against them, albeit at home. The game was overshadowed by appalling behaviour from the away support though.
We then went down to Bristol in what was one of the best away performances from the Lads in a long time. It was there where we first saw the start of the deadly Ellis Simms and Ross Stewart combo. Simms grabbed two whilst Stewart put the other one in. We saw a 1-0 lead go to us being behind two goals to one, and in other years we would have went on to lost but not with this squad, we immediately returned fire and equalised two minutes after going behind, and then Ross nodded in the winner to cap off a brilliant win.
Sheffield Wednesday doesn’t count so we’re just gonna fly right past that one…
Even though the two goal collapse against QPR felt like a dagger to the heart it was a game that we could have and should have won. Regardless, it’s refreshing to see us dominate these teams, we just need to fix a few small things and we’ll be flying. For 80 minutes of the game we were relentless, then in the final five minutes the away side got one back, through a beautiful free kick from Ilias Chair - who really shouldn’t have been on the pitch after grabbing Gooch’s neck just seconds before sending one in the top bins. Then of course their bloody keeper scores and makes a brilliant save to grab a point. It was hard to take but we looked so good for so long that I wasn’t worried, and if we can play like that consistently and work on closing out games we’ll turn over a lot of sides.
Then of course the game yesterday, Sheffield United away. It was our biggest challenge of the season on paper, with United being one of the sides tipped for a promotion charge. For the first 30 minutes we were once again the better side, we didn’t let them breathe, we played it around them and forced their fans into silence. The sending off hampered our chances of coming away with anything but even with ten men for an hour we only lost 2-1, and I firmly believe that if it was 11 v 11 we would've left Bramall Lane with at least a point if not three. The ten on the pitch battled hard and got one goal back and I must say it was a tidy goal scored by Captain Lynden Gooch.
All we need are a few small changes here and there, along with a few more additions and we’ll have a really good season. The future is bright for our club, and I’m now looking forward to games rather than the dread of watching us embarrass ourselves week in week out.
