No Grounds For Complaint

The start of the confirmed JJ era, all of us desperate to continue the climb up the table towards those top six places. He took over with a tough away fixture and nobody expected anything less. Play as we have done recently against Sunderland, Rotherham, Plymouth before of course, and Ipswich and we’d be confident of taking something from the game; play as we did when a little jaded, as against Morcombe and Shrewsbury, and we’re in danger. It proved to be the latter and, while we were unfortunate to be behind at the break, we can have no complaints about the outcome as we were decidedly second-best through the second half and could easily have conceded more.

The obvious question is why? The principle factors would seem clear. First, losing Famewo, Washington and Davison to Covid will have disrupted preparations and left us weaker on the pitch and from the bench, especially given the form the first two have been in of late. Although Leko showed well in the first half, his is a different style to Washington and collectively it just didn’t run as smoothly, while moving Purrington to be the third centre-back saw Soare occupy the wing-back role on the left side and he struggled to influence the game. Second, we were up against determined opposition, eager to get a win under their belts for their new manager; and once they had something to hang on to they raised their game and fought tooth and nail, eclipsing our effective central midfield.

Third, simply too many of our players had a below-par game. Gilbey and Lee were less effective going forward than of late, while Jaiyesimi had a poor first half, when he either crossed badly, passed sloppily, or miscontrolled the ball. And it might have been worse. Gilbey saw yellow in the first half for a poor challenge which involved him off his feet and studs showing. It would have been very harsh but I was a little relieved the ref hadn’t interpreted it as a red. Then DJ went to sweep the ball clear and only succeeded in connecting with their advancing forward. At first sight it looked a penalty to me.

Fourth, just the ebb and flow of the game and the importance of scoring first. Nobody questions we had the better of the first 20 minutes or so, Plymouth looking very subdued. The Stockley free header from a free kick and another set-piece ball into him might have produced the opening goal and a different game. Instead, although Plymouth were coming more into the game towards half-time, they would have been content to reach the break with the game scoreless and instead found themselves ahead, curtesy of a good attack down our left and an astute pass forward which led to the shot well saved by MacGillivray, only for the rebound to fall to their guy who managed to bisect two defenders and the keeper and in off the far post. With hindsight that changed the game, although at the break I suspect we all felt ‘OK, it’s happened, now we need to up our game and go and win it’, which simply didn’t happen as we failed to muster an attempt on target.

Fifth, and this is the more worrying element, this is the third consecutive disappointing away performance and result. Against Morcombe we gave up a two-goal lead and we lost to that late foul at Shrewsbury. Fatigue was assumed to be a factor, this time around we had the break between games but were three down and the possibility that more players were under the weather. We will only find out in due course if we can realistically just write off the game as a reflection of that disadvantage and not indicative of a deeper problem in getting the balance right when playing away from The Valley.

We have to see how the whole football situation develops over the days/weeks ahead in light of Covid. But as things stand Wimbledon away on Boxing Day takes on huge significance. If we want to prove that we don’t have a problem playing away, that we still have a chance of the play-offs (and that on that basis there is justification for something extra from the transfer window), we need really a win.

Not As Pretty But Gap Still Narrows

We all knew what we wanted from the game yesterday – a repeat/extension of Tuesday night’s performance against Ipswich, leaving out the first 20 mins or so. We didn’t really get that, but what we did get proved good enough. We weren’t able to reproduce the dominance and attacking threat we showed before, there was – like after the Plymouth game – just less verve and with this slightly less physical effort. Also, unlike on Tuesday night our opponents didn’t fold once they went behind. It all resulted in a much more even contest, one which Cambridge will undoubtedly feel hard done-by to come away with nothing, having fashioned effectively two one-on-ones in the second half. That they didn’t was down to MacGillivray and their finishing.

The team saw one change, with Jaiyesimi taking a breather and swapping places on the bench with Lekko. He’d looked rather unsure of the task of playing wing-back, but with a few more days to get used to the requirements, and with more game-time under his belt, played his part defensively as well as going forward. And on that front he was our main threat through the first half, causing them no end of problems – although crucially when Purrington put in a cross from the left which went to the far post he hadn’t gambled and made the move to get on the end of it.

Let’s face it the first half was scrappy, we struggled to get things moving. Perhaps fatigue, perhaps the horrible conditions, perhaps the opposition. But it mattered not in that as on Tuesday night we’d taken the lead. Lekko’s attempted cross was blocked and he laid it back into the path of Gilbey, who instead of curling it in for Stockley’s head played a shorter ball into Washington, with his back to goal. If his first touch was deliberately crafted to give him just the extra space and room to turn and shoot it was sublime, as the defender was never close enough to shut him down and instead the low shot through his legs went into the far corner.

Cambridge had their moments, creating mayhem in our box one after Famewo was surprisingly shouldered off the ball and also one of their guys shooting just wide of the post from a good position. The only other point of note for me from the first half was that I felt the ref dealt very well with two incidents. First, Famewo appeared to me at first to swing an elbow and connect with their guy’s face, I feared it would be a red. But the ref didn’t overreact and when we had the chance to see it again it was clear that Famewo was using his arm to help him keep position; he did catch the guy but not with any swing of the elbow. Second, their forward caught Pearce in the face with one. Here too there was no real intent. A yellow for both, nothing more. (And in the second half, when Pearce took another and Stockley got involved the ref was again calm, waited for the dust to settle, then acted appropriately.)

At the break I think we fancied ourselves to get another and perhaps run out fairly comfortable winners. But that didn’t happen. Instead Cambridge matched us all the way and had two great opportunities to level the score. First Dobson was for once caught out in midfield, advancing to make an interception and not getting there, which created the space for their guy to play in the forward. MacGillivray moved out quickly to shut down the space and excellently blocked the effort. The second time was more of a long ball which their forward read better than two of our defenders and slipped into nick it past and advancing MacGillivray. Nothing he could do about that one, but thankfully it drifted just wide of the post.

Like on Tuesday we had to wait until late in the day to be able to relax. Soare, who’d come on for an injured Purrington (after DJ had replaced Lekko), put in a cross from the left which was headed out but blocked, falling nicely for Washington. Once again his first touch proved to be decisive and he drilled it home. Queue repeat celebrations, six minutes of stoppage time (but not quite enough for Morgan to enter the fray).

The positive take on the game is no doubt that we won despite not being at our best. And perhaps the main message was a reinforcement of what JJ has already said: when we are really on song we’re a match for anyone in this league, the obvious other side of the coin being that when we are not we need to dig in and will have problems against decent and determined teams like Cambridge.

I’ve got a bit out of the habit of player ratings of late, but I’d make MacGillivray my Man of the Match. I saw ratings for the Ipswich game giving him 6. How do you score a keeper who hasn’t had a single shot to save? Can hardly penalise his score for that. Yesterday he was instrumental in us staying ahead in the game, which would have taken a very different shape if they had equalised. Of course Washington takes plaudits too, for a brace of well-taken goals, while Pearce put in yet another committed display despite looking in clear discomfort (and taking a couple in the face).

So now a chance to rest some weary legs - and surely to sort out JJ's status - ahead of a trip to Plymouth, who having come to The Valley riding high at the top have now lost four and drawn one out of the last five, and lost their manager. Sitting now in sixth, it is their place in the league we covet. Let’s hope the gap has narrowed further before Santa turns up.

Back On Track

I think the requirement for tonight was clear: to demonstrate, through both the result and the performance, that the points dropped at Morecombe and Shrewsbury will come to amount to nothing more than a blip – and in tandem with this there is no fading of the positive JJ impact, that the opposition weren’t starting to suss us out. To be fair we didn’t know how Ipswich would shape up, having just got rid of their manager.

Fair to say we got what we wanted. After an uncertain start, once we scored there was really only one team in it, the only problem being that it took us until almost the end to make the points safe. For that Ipswich’s keeper takes a good deal of the credit, although we were not clinical enough in taking very good chances. That is, really, the only criticism as we were dominant in all areas of the pitch and had the leaders. I don’t know if Ipswich had a poor evening, if we made them look poor, or both. If there was one area in which they let their fans down it was in their reaction to going behind, it seemed to stun and undermine them rather than prompt them to raise their game. And although they enjoyed a reasonable amount of possession they had nobody able to provide the spark and galvanise others to get back into the game. Quite frankly, they looked a lot like we did under Adkins.

The team and squad was always going to be about availability, as it is fair to say that if all are available we could pretty much guess the starting XI. The return of Stockley was assumed, and it had been indicated that Pearce would be available again (but that Blackett-Taylor would be on the injured list). Both were indeed confirmed, with Clare retained as the third centre-back rather than Gunter, Purrington and Jaiyesimi the wing-backs, the midfield trio of Dobson, Gilbey and Lee, plus Stockley and Washington up front. On the bench Elerewe and Soare provided the defensive options, Watson and Kirk for midfield, plus Leko and Davison for the attack – really a much better balanced mix than often of late, reflecting players being available again.

Ipswich did start the brighter and in the first 10 minutes at least we struggled to put anything together, especially as Lee began by sending a corner and a free-kick straight down their keeper’s throat. We did get more into it after that, with a good run and cross from Purrington on the left leading to DJ heading over. But let’s be honest, when we took the lead on 25 minutes we can’t say it had been coming and there was no inkling of the change to the game that goal would produce.

Washington, as he was to do all night, found space between their defenders, timed his run well to just stay onside, and was picked out with a ball from Dobson played into the channel on the left side. He took it on and from a narrowish angle hit a shot which their keeper parried well, only for Stockley to be first to the rebound and hit it crisply low into the net.

Taking the lead inflated us, just as it deflated them. For the remainder of the first half it was just a question of whether we could take advantage of being on top to extend the lead. But a succession of half-chances came and went. Washington showed great control to take down a high ball and get a shot away, only for it to be blocked, Stockley headed over from a corner, Gilbey played in Jaiyesimi for another effort blocked. Washington this time (unlike against Rotherham) didn’t get away with a push in the back to win the ball. Ipswich did have one or two dangerous situations with balls into the box, but no actual attempts on target.

In the second half Ipswich did seem to play more direct and did cause a few problems early on, although the returning Bonne was cutting an increasingly frustrated figure. However, it was us almost adding to the lead as Stockley played in Washington down the right, his cross was deflected but bounced down and over their keeper, and Purrington coming in at the far post seemed set to score, only for his header to be rather too central, allowing their keeper to get across and save. And as Ipswich’s enthusiasm seemed again to fade, a Purrington low cross evaded everyone, Lee saw an effort blocked, as did Gilbey, then Lee had a close-range header saved after a knockback from Purrington.

Just past the hour Ipswich brought on another prodigal son, this time in the form of Pigott to partner Bonne. It didn’t change anything as next Dobson won the ball, played it wide to Washington, and his ball back across picked out Lee but his shot was too central and the keeper saved again. Clare had a long range shot saved.

With about 20 minutes left, after Pearce had unceremoniously pulled down their guy and jogged away with a yellow, DJ was replaced by Leko. The next action was an astonishing run by Gilbey, who almost made it through on his own. I remember thinking as the clock ticked down, can we please just score again and put this game to bed, we all know what can happen. The next big chance was route one as MacGillivray’s long clearance was flicked on by Stockley and Washington seemed to be in. He hit a shot across their keeper, who stuck out a leg to keep them in it. A Lee free kick near the byline found Pearce whose knockdown was met by Washington but the shot turned around for a corner. For good measure Leko got in on the act, running inside and getting off a shot. Another save.

Just when we were starting to really get concerned we did get the goal to put the game to bed. Washington managed to keep the ball alive down our left and worked it back to Lee. He spotted a run from Gilbey and picked him out. There was still plenty to do, but Gilbey nicked it inside and went past their defender, now only the keeper to beat. And this time he was given no chance, the ball planted into the far corner of the net. Cue mass celebrations and considerable relief inside and outside The Valley.

If you were to be hypercritical there were elements that weren’t perfect. DJ did his defensive duties well but seemed a little hesitant going forward, while Leko will need more instruction in the art of playing wing-back if he is to be considered for the role (presumably Blackett-Taylor will be back). Lee had a less effective game than before, wasted some set-pieces and didn’t convert some good chances; but he was still able to pick out Gilbey for the decisive second. And Washington did everything tonight – except put the ball into the net.

If we can end every game with just such issues to point out we will all be very happy. In the end the performance echoed that against Plymouth, we allowed them not a single effort on target all night, with MacGillivray having not a shot to save. Famewo made the odd bad choice (which did not escape Steve Brown) but generally dominated their forwards physically, as did Pearce, while Dobson was once again quietly very, very effective. Collectively they were up for it and clearly shared in the delight of an excellent team performance. Another like that on Saturday please.

Time To Plan For Jan, Starting With JJ

Since the appointment of Johnnie Jackson on a caretaker basis my guess has been that Thomas Sandgaard would wait until the approach of the January transfer window before making a further decision – give him a permanent contract, make him manager until the end of the season, or bring in a replacement. That time is now fast approaching, a point underlined by Ipswich disposing of their manager (albeit after an embarrassing FA Cup result).

Basically the thinking would be something like this. By say mid-December, do we have a realistic chance of getting promoted (based on both position and momentum)? If yes, what do we need to do to increase the chances; if no, we start planning for next season. Clearly we have benefited from JJ’s installation and I’d suggest that replacing him before end-December with someone else would not deliver any fresh ‘bounce’ likely to increase our chances of promotion. For me, changing horses now would be tantamount to more or less writing off this season and preparing for the next campaign (it might be considered advantageous in that respect to have in place early the next manager to get the basics relationships sorted in preparation for summer transfer activity rather sooner than last time around). It would not be surprising to see the players draw similar conclusions and, whether consciously or not, take their foot off the pedal.

It follows from that, for me, that if we consider ourselves as having a reasonable chance of promotion this season, the decision is then between either a long-term contract for JJ or an extension of his position until the end of the season. That would in turn pave the way for decisions over what we might do in January to build on the positive momentum (leaving aside the last two away games) and have a real run at it – and I don’t mind admitting that I’m in favour of anything that increases our chances of going up this time around (and vice versa, which drives my attitude to the unwanted distraction of an FA Cup run and the simply unwanted Papa DoDa thingy).

That said, it’s TS’ money and if he, for whatever reason, believes that the club will be better off with an alternative manger, so be it. Presumably by now he will have seen enough of other candidates to know who would take over, so that all would happen quickly. It would be disappointing, somewhat surprising, but ultimately something we as supporters would have to go along with.

When it comes to the January window, the options and priorities would seem fairly obvious – even if the answers are not. Whether or not we need a new centre-back depends entirely on assessments over the availability of Inniss, Lavelle and Pearce, plus whether Elerewe is considered ready as at least a regular squad member. The midfield and wide positions look covered, while up front whether or not we need another (the outright goalscorer) would seem to hinge on whether Burstow is considered to be ready to play a material role through the rest of the season and/or whether Leko is seen as primarily playing as a second striker (giving us effectively Stockley or Davison and Washington or Leko/Burstow). These are decisions for the manager to be primarily responsible for, at least in terms of detailing what we need if we are looking to strengthen.

I wouldn’t criticise TS for taking this long to decide on JJ. But the time for contemplation and looking at options is pretty much over now. And surely our club is big enough for two guitar players.

Narrow Margins

No question that hurt. We’d I think pretty much reconciled ourselves to the fact that we hadn’t played well enough, against another lowly but resolute opponent, to be able to claim we deserved to win; but losing in stoppage time to a ‘goal’ that so clearly should have been ruled out is another matter. Going into the game you’d have said a win and dropping the points against Morecombe was repaired, four points from the two games a good return, a defeat and you have to question whether at least the initial the JJ bounce has run its course, a draw and we’d feel a little disappointed but fair enough, depending on the circumstances. As it is, the loss and the circumstances inevitably leave us feeling gutted, even if JJ is right to focus on 14 points from 7 games.

For Shrewsbury’s goal, it is worth remembering that we got our equaliser against Rotherham (well-deserved as it may have been) curtesy of a clear shove in the back on their guy by Washington. In both cases I’d suggest that you had a forward playing the percentages: no chance of getting the ball so no downside to trying to influence play with a foul, worst that can happen is the ref gives the free kick against you and if he misses it you never know. The refs in League One are inconsistent enough to make it well worth trying; with VAR both goals would have been ruled out.

With around 10 minutes to go, the game scoreless and horrible in windy conditions, the situation was created whereby either side could have nicked a fortunate winner. In stoppage time the ball actually dropped in their box to Gilbey, but instead of firing in the winner he scuffed his shot. Narrow margins. And although we look back on the lion’s share of possession, they could have scored twice in the opening spell – one cross inches away from being converted then the powerful strike which MacGillivray superbly turned over the bar. The sum total of our real efforts on goal was Gilbey’s first-half shot, two headers either side of the break from Washington, and a fierce drive from Lee – all of which amounted to routine saves by their keeper. Might add in the cross which was headed out from under the bar by their defender.

The concerning aspect for me about both the Morecombe and Shrewsbury games was our failure to impose ourselves and win the games in the second half. In both games we were brighter and more inventive before the break. That surely points to the fatigue we have all been pointing to, plus the lack of good options on the bench. I suspect most would agree that if Stockley and Pearce had both been available we would have taken more than the one point. It isn’t that those on the bench are not good players, just that we are short in key areas (up front and central defence) while the midfield trio of Dobson, Gilbey and Lee has been working so well that you don’t want to alter that during a game.

It's also reasonable to suppose that the opposition have been doing their homework and worked out how they want to counter our threat. Shrewsbury began the game very much on the front foot, but one they didn’t get their early goal they focused more on getting players behind the ball, leaving no space for Lee in particular to utilise. That really meant our threat had to come down the flanks, but while Blackett-Taylor caused them problems moving Purrington into central defence did curb the threat on the other side, with Soare looking rather rusty.

We know that in both games the zip and verve which we saw against Plymouth has just not been there. Has to be back by the time Ipswich come visiting if the momentum is to be restored. Barring injury Stockley will be back for that one, perhaps Pearce too, and with Leko now back in the frame and Jaiyesimi having a further break to rebuild the energy we should be in better shape physically and mentally. Of course in the interim there is the small matter of sending out a side for the Papa John’s thing and avoiding the embarrassment of an FA Cup exit to Gateshead. Quite frankly just want those games out of the way so that we can focus on the ones that matter and getting back on track after a blip.

Glass Half Full

After Saturday’s performance and result, it wasn’t just the dressing room that was bubbly. Were we perhaps just a little guilty of letting expectations run away? Could we deliver again? It proved to be a case of glass half full/half empty, the only problem being that at one stage that glass was full. It was a game which for most of the time we looked like we would win, we had the possession and the opportunities to win, but this time came up short as we allowed Morecambe a way back into it. Fact is the zip of Saturday wasn’t there tonight, it was a game too far; but the positive was the fact that having been pegged back to 2-2 we didn’t lose the game, keeping the unbeaten run under JJ going. And if we win at Shrewsbury on Saturday it will look like a good point.

The team news centred on whether or not Pearce would be fit and whether there would be roles for Leko, who apparently travelled and could be available again, and/or Burstow. In the event Pearce didn’t make it and Gunter started, making it the same back three in front of MacGillivray which finished the game on Saturday, with Elerewe taking Gunter’s place on the bench. The rest of the team was predictably as you were, no resting of any tired legs. The composition of the bench – one replacement defender, one replacement forward, four midfield/wide midfield – reflected available resources and served to underline that the last thing we needed would be another injury.

We’d barely taken our seats when we went in front. Good work down the right side saw the ball find its way into Davison, who slid it back out to Jaiyesimi in space. He drilled it in, probably more a cross than a shot, but their keeper failed to gather it and ended up helping it on its way into the net.

And after a little over 20 minutes of reasonable control we extended the lead. MacGillivray collected and looked up, picked out Washington in space with a long clearance. Their centre-half made a mess of it, allowing him to get on the end of the ball and to chip the keeper from outside the box. After Saturday’s assured finish from Lee’s through ball, it was another good conversion.

With a two-goal cushion and seemingly in control thoughts immediately turned to being able perhaps to play within ourselves, take the foot off the pedal a little after the effort put in on Saturday. We didn’t really get the chance to find out as almost straight after Morecambe were back in it, curtesy of a soft but probably correct penalty. Gunter was being manhandled by Stockton but didn’t go down, only to get turned and to make contact with the centre-forward, who gratefully went to ground. It was either a penalty or a yellow for diving, probably just about the former. Stockton dispatched the spot kick and the game changed.

We continued to have the lion’s share of the play through to the break, without creating another clear chance. And nothing much changed in the second half, Washington turning in the box but saw his effort blocked, as was a fierce shot from DJ, then Dobson joined in with another. We were to pay for not extending the lead again as on 72 minutes Morecambe equalised, a fairly simple case of a corner swung in and a guy not being marked heading home.

I have to say at that point, with us already looking jaded and increasingly sloppy in possession, I feared we would go on to lose the match. We managed to avoid that outcome, without testing their keeper at the other end. A tired DJ gave way for Blackett-Taylor on the right side, followed by Gunter coming off and Kirk on, with Purrington moved inside. Both the replacements had their moments, without delivering a telling one. Finally Burstow came on for Davison with only a few minutes of normal time remaining; and with only three stoppage time minutes added the ref still managed to blow for the end of the game before we were able to find out whether Dobson’s shot might have produced a winner.

We finished the stronger of the two sides, Morecambe looking pleased with their point. Understandably it felt like a couple of points dropped, fact is we didn’t create a really good chance in the entire second half. It was a game too far, now just hope the team has the time to regroup and refresh in time for Saturday, perhaps with one or two of the injured back available. Disappointed – which is itself a reflection of the raised expectations now – but give Morecambe some credit; they were dogged and put in a shift to get themselves a very hard-earned point. What our point will mean for us will only become clearer after Saturday’s game.

No point in player ratings for tonight, they would all be similar and everyone was a little off the pace compared with Saturday. Give Man of the Match to Washington, second accomplished finish in two games.

Belatedly Joining In The Celebrations

I’m afraid first celebrations then painting and decorating (plus a drive back to Lyon from Givry) prevented any match report from me. But just in case there is any doubt, like every other Addick I was just bloody delighted (again). We went toe-to-toe with the team leading the league and didn’t allow them to play, leaving them looking like they had an off-day, and created a fair number of opportunities through good play of our own, taking two of them. The possession stats were, in this context, entirely irrelevant.

Nobody is in any doubt we merited the win on the day – and to their credit I’ve not seen any dissenting voice from a Plymouth fan or official. Plymouth manager Ryan Lowe’s assessment, according to the BBC, was that: “It wasn't for the lack of trying, we didn't have that cutting edge at the top end of the pitch. The turnovers were too quick and we knew what they would try to do and try to counter on us, and there was a bit of sloppy play on our behalf by individuals. But it's football, they're human beings and sometimes they're going to make mistakes. We weren't quite at our best while Charlton were." I’d only take issue with the idea that we were at our best; that is surely yet to come.

Within the well-deserved plaudits perhaps a note of perspective. On Saturday we scored at just the right times (glossing over the fact that one off someone’s backside in the 95th minute would have been fine), which gave the game the shape it adopted. At half-time for sure we had been the better side but there were concerns: first, we hadn’t scored; second, Plymouth would probably come out better in the second half; and third, they did have opportunities in a game of few clear-cut chances. We know the best teams win when not playing well and it wouldn’t have been a big surprise had Plymouth upped the tempo after the break and nicked the first goal, after which it would have been a real struggle to get something out of the game despite having played so well.

Instead, as the game was entering its final third, we scored the massively important first goal, curtesy of both an assured finish by Purrington but also poor defending. Three Plymouth defenders ended up jumping for the cross against one of us - and all missed it; and although Purrington did well to keep the ball down and hit it true, their keeper let it in under his body. Now in the first half we had got away with a couple of errors in defence, in the second I think just one. First, Pearce moved up, apparently to play offside, only for someone to his right not going with him, leaving the space in behind. It was exploited and only a fine save by MacGillivray kept the scoresheet blank. Second, Famewo, despite having a storming game overall, was caught out once which nearly cost us. Third, Jaiyesimi – also outstanding, especially in the first half – was running on empty and saw the ball played behind him to their guy, who was able to drill in a low cross that very nearly resulted in a goal (fortunately it didn’t get a touch from one of theirs and then Purrington was able to avoid putting it into his own net).

That goal understandably galvanised us, especially as it came just minutes after Pearce had been forced to leave the pitch injured, creating doubts about whether a defence containing a midfielder and a full-back in the central area would be able to cope, without Pearce’s leadership. We did look edgy at the back for a while and if the goal had not come then it is quite possible Plymouth would have grabbed the initiative.

Even so, as the clock ticked down we were facing the prospect of a final 10 minutes or so of really backs-to-the-wall stuff. A number of players had given their all (Davison and DJ were the ones taken off but it was a close call for others whose legs were giving out). Plymouth’s height advantage might have told from a set piece. Instead, just as we were girding our loins for the challenge, Lee goes and plays one of the balls of the season to pick out Washington in space. And he resembled Mendonca as he waited for their keeper to make a move then played it over him and into the net. It was an excellent finish. We get the lift again at just the right time, air taken out of their tyres (to the extent that we could easily have scored another couple).

I suppose the point is that yes, we undoubtedly deserved the win but also we got the breaks. That’s not going to happen every week. We have good reason to have faith in the resolve of this team now, given the way they fought for a point against Rotherham after going behind. But we can’t expect now to just breeze past opposition of lesser quality than Sunderland, Rotherham and Plymouth. The approach to the games of late has been spot-on and that simply has to be replicated if we are to extend the run and continue to climb the table.

Now for sure that’s not going to stop us noting that, although the gap to sixth is still nine points (and yes, Sunderland and MK Dons have played fewer), there are now ‘only’ six teams standing between us and a play-off spot. Successive away games against teams battling for their lives at the bottom up next, then a well-deserved break (not before, please).