Football returns

Having left such a gap between posts, I am in the position of being able to gloss over a rather one sided cup game which we lost rather heavily.

There is a story behind that sad fact which is that, despite leading the side to league glory, the gaffer has decided to call it a day for the time being, Mourinho like in bowing out at the top. Kev has discovered there is more to Tuesday mornings than nursing aching limbs and has relinquished the reins in favour of a younger man. This being Dom does raise questions about his experience at the top level but the club, after lengthy discussions, put aside the usual favourites e.g. Bryan Robson, David O'Leary, Alan Curbishley et al, and opted for the potential he has shown over the past seasons.

That was demonstrated in our 9 - 1 thrashing by a lower division side but I have put that badly in an attempt to make a weak 'joke' at the expense of Dom. The fact of the matter is we were missing a keeper and two outfield players and completed the entire game against a league winning side with just 5 on the pitch. It was actually an achievement to avoid an even heavier loss!

The best part was departing new Matt getting the only goal of the game for us, a suitable note for him to bow out on. Although in goal, hope you're reading this Richie, he sauntered upfield as the score didn't matter by then and lined up for a corner. Beating his man as the ball fell in the box, new Matt neatly side-stepped a challenge and thrashed the ball into the top corner with his left foot. A great goal to say goodbye with.

This week's game was our first back in the top division and we incredibly won.

Rich in goal - superb but not called on a great deal
Dom and Doug at the back - reliable as ever and even got forward!!!!
Matt C, Pete, Dave C and Phil - dominant in the middle with boundless energy
Iain the lone striker - perhaps more proof that running is a thing of the past or never was

The shape of the team gave us the chance to build some effective attacks and we never looked likely to concede until they scored a break away toward the end.

It was Pete's corners that proved the key with two off them giving me the chance to stumble forward and get a head to the ball. Pete actually won one of the corners as well with a shot saved well by the keeper. He also scored the third goal which clinched the game, a toe poke home as the keeper sprinted from the line to narrow the angle. His shot was right in the corner and restored our two goal cushion after being pegged back to 2 - 1.

I'd been worried where the goals would come from but Phil and Matt both had good efforts on goal saved or narrowly wide. With the goal from Pete, he may have already sealed at least a share of second highest scorer for the season! And we have almost as many points now as we did after the entire series of games last time we experienced this standard. Not a bad start for Dom after all.