And It Continues ...

Fair to say that after Saturday we were still pinching ourselves to see if it’s real. Into a play-off spot, automatic promotion spot only eight points away. How long could this go on? How many more times would Jones be able to announce an unchanged team/squad? The dressing room must be on cloud nine too – but hopefully with high confidence not diverting attention from the need for improvement in areas of the game and the immediate issue of two really tough challenges. Barnsley came to The Valley on the back of three straight wins having revived their play-off hopes (after they were only narrowly beaten by both Huddersfield and Stockport) – and while we’ve been knocking them in late in the day we haven’t forgotten that they matched us in that department at their place back in October, our 93rd minute goal to put us 2-1 up countered by their 95th minute equaliser.

We didn’t get a repeat of the drama of Saturday – but far more important we had a repeat of the outcome, another three points secured. And this time you could say it was down to a thoroughly professional (in the positive sense) display. Barnsley pulled us apart in the first 10 minutes but, helped for sure by taking the lead against the run of play, we progressively got on top and through the game effectively nullified their threat. This involved not just the defence but also the forwards running their socks off. As on Saturday we should have been more clinical in front of goal, but I honestly can’t remember feeling more comfortable defending a one-goal lead in the final stages than I was last night.

Barnsley’s manager talked of it being a ‘game too far’ for them, with suspensions and injuries before and during the game, also highlighting the significant impact of the first goal and how different things might have been if they had scored first when on top. That’s all fair enough. From our perspective we did what we needed to do – and did most of it very well.

For the team Jones had the same decision to make as on Saturday, whether or not to recall Docherty for Anderson. This time he did go for the switch, probably taking account of the greater threat from the opposition. Otherwise it was as you were.

Barnsley came out of the traps quickly and we barely got a touch of the ball in the first 10 minutes. The defending was desperate and improvised at times but we didn’t concede. And in what was probably only our second foray into their half, on 10 minutes Campbell moved inside and drew the foul, giving us a free-kick in a decent position, fairly central but a fair way out. Berry ran over the ball, leaving it for Gillesphey, who hit a low drive around the wall and towards the corner of the net. Their keeper got there quickly enough, but got his positioning wrong and if anything dived too soon, the ball going over his outstretched arm and in.

It was unexpected and undeserved, but most welcome. As was the save by Mannion which followed a few minutes later as their guy was able, with the run of the ball, to dribble through our defence into a very dangerous position. Fortunately his shot was close enough for Mannion to parry. After that alarm we did settle more into the game. Berry might have done better running onto a good ball to find him but had a heavy first touch. But through the rest of the half chances were few and far between, most of the play involving both sides getting behind the ball quickly when out of possession and us not often able to get Campbell or Small into positions to threaten, leaving Godden nothing to feed off.

At the break the stats showed they had edged possession and that we had had one effort on target (the goal) and just three attempts in total, against their nine (three on target). All that paled into insignificance set against the scoreline.

In the second half we really should have put the game to bed. Almost all the chances were for us. On 58 minutes good work from the increasingly effective Campbell ended with a low cross and Berry getting to it first, only for him to fail to make a decisive connection. From the other flank Small skinned his marker and found Docherty, who set up Berry again but the shot was weak. And after the first changes made by Jones – on 68 minutes it was Leaburn for Godden and Anderson for Berry – a Jones header from a corner hit the post only for the ref to give a foul against him (from the replays I saw nothing wrong), Coventry hit a powerful shot from distance which their keeper at full stretch turned around the post. All Barnsley offered was a fierce shot which went just wide.

Into the final 10 minutes and we had another good chance to make it two. Campbell again the provider, playing in Leaburn. His shot was reasonable but saved. That was almost the cue to shut things down. Aneke, McIntyre and Watson were introduced on 85 minutes for an exhausted Campbell, Docherty and Small. There was a minor alarm as Jones and Mannion went for the same ball, but it led to nothing. There was still the thought that we could end up losing four points this season to Barnsley in stoppage time, but in truth we ran down the clock quite comfortably, leaving the celebrations at the final whistle to be ones of satisfaction (rather than the outpouring of emotion as on Saturday).

We have to get through Stockport on Saturday before we can take stock – and even then we will have another two games the following week (away at Crawley, who will be looking to do the double over us, and home to Wigan) before there will be the chance for a breather.

In the interim, let’s just reflect and value the fact that, although we are often not the prettiest team in the division, we have worked out a style and set-up which is proving very effective. A 3-5-2/5-3-2 on paper but with one of the forwards (Campbell) operating mostly on the left side and one of the midfielders (Berry) often filling in as the second striker, combinations on both flanks (Edwards and Campbell, Ramsay and Small) which offer real attacking threats, a hardworking midfield, a tight defence, and players off the bench capable of doing different jobs depending on the situation (Aneke and Leaburn, Gilbert). 

We’ve been fortunate of late with injuries/accidents and suspensions and have to hope that continues, and deal with the fact that other teams will come up with plans to try to neutralise our threats. But for all this, if Jones doesn’t get manager of the month there is no doubt he bloody well deserves it.

Far From Perfect But What An End

No doubts about this six-pointer: a win would be fantastic, a draw acceptable (depending on the circumstances of course), a defeat a serious setback to our play-off ambitions. We ended up getting the whole gamut of emotions. For the first 45 minutes it looked like we would get something, quite possibly a win, as we more than edged the first half; they had chances too, but we’d not converted the only glaring one. For the second 45 we were looking down the barrel of a defeat, as Leyton Orient from the start upped their effort and had us on the back foot, took the lead, and looked as capable of adding to it as we did of levelling things up, even though we had a second moment when it seemed we had surely scored. Then in what ended up being eight minutes of stoppage time we went from likely to defeat to getting away with a merited point, then utter delight as we won the game with a carbon copy of our first. Cue pandemonium, wherever you watched the game from, and the complete reversal for them and their fans.

It was a game in which there were so many half-chances, good openings, for both teams. The final stats showed 36 attempts on goal, more than one every three minutes, almost evenly split, with 14 on target (nine for us, five for them). But nearly all of them were wasted; both keepers did well (until one had a stoppage time to really forget) but their saves were ones you’d expect them to make, including those involved in our two golden chances. Instead we had them taking the lead with a wonder strike from distance and us winning it with two if not free then barely challenged headers at the far post from corners.

Did we deserve all three points? I suspect the neutrals would say a draw would have been a fair result. Of course if you play eight minutes of stoppage time against anyone, never mind a defence that, although depleted, ranks among the tightest in the division, you are going to score twice very few times. Of course we don’t care, but there are still some lessons to take from the game.

There was a decision for Jones to make when it came to team selection, namely whether or not to bring back available-again Docherty for Anderson, who had stepped up so well against Exeter. Jones I guess opted for the line that if the guy in possession of the shirt has done nothing wrong he keeps it. So Docherty would be on the bench, with Kanu losing out and still no place for Mitchell. Tough on both of them but something has to give and it would seem that Mitchell has, at least for now, fallen below McIntyre in the pecking order. At least this meant a balance among the replacements, with two defensive (including a wing-back), two midfield, and two attacking options.

Again, I don’t propose to go through all the game’s incidents, it’s a day after the event and there were just too many. Enough for whichever side lost to have pointed to their missed opportunities but with nobody to blame but themselves.

So the first lesson is surely that we have to be more clinical in converting good openings in open play into goals. Sure, Berry has to feel that if only he had directed his header to anywhere other than down at their prostrate keeper it would have been a goal. And just how the Docherty shot in the second half did not end up as a goal is still a mystery. There’s no legislating for those moments, but others that came and went were more problematic.

Campbell, who was again central to most of our attacks, was played in and we had numbers up, but the move ended with a weak effort easily blocked (he seemed to be trying to repeat the effort against Exeter but from a wider angle), while an early break saw Edwards clear in space but Campbell’s first touch let him down. Godden had a shot on the turn around the penalty spot after their keeper spilled a high ball, colliding with his own player, which he couldn’t get on top of, nor could Berry control one that rebounded to him (not the one off the bar) and hit it well over. Coventry shot over the bar, as did Gilbert late on, while Aneke tried to curl one in from inside the box but didn’t get the angles right.

Perhaps it was just one of those days when for most of it looked as though we would never score. We had been pretty clinical against Exeter and you can’t get it right all the time.

Second, what was wrong with the defence? Forget their goal. It actually came after we had blocked successive shots from much more dangerous positions, seemed like the danger had passed as the ball was well outside our box. As soon as their guy hit it though, you felt ‘oh merde, this doesn’t look good’. Rather you have to criticise aspects of our display as there were too many misplaced passes which put us in danger, an offside trap sprung in the second half resulting in a very good chance for them. Ramsay in particular had a wobbly afternoon, very unusual. Give Leyton Orient some credit here. They passed the ball well and were adept at creating space with intelligent runs going forward. They even managed to bring on a winger for the last 10 minutes or so who scared the life out of me and so nearly laid on a second, which surely would have killed off the game. But I don’t doubt Jones and his team will be taking a look at some of their openings and our mistakes. That we only conceded one was due primarily to their failings in front of goal.

Did Jones’ substitutions change the game? Yes and no. He waited until the 68th minute before changing anything, with Leaburn, Docherty and Gilbert on for Anderson, Berry and Edwards, him being sacrificed for a shift in the set-up. Then on 77 minutes Aneke entered the fray for Coventry, by which time we were getting back to basics and going longer and longer, for good reason. It all led to a very happy combination of circumstances, but was it accident/desperation or design? Something Napoleon said about lucky generals comes to mind. 

Their keeper had already dropped one cross, albeit impeded by his own player, and misread another, which saw Ramsay fail to put away with a clean header. But when it came to stoppage time we had Leaburn, Aneke, Jones, Gillesphey and Ramsay to target and with Gilbert someone who it seems can deliver quality balls in from set pieces. With the others causing mayhem and occupying their main defenders, first Gillesphey and then Ramsay were left relatively free to head home at the far post from close range, having manoeuvred to find themselves up against smaller opponents. Was that the plan? If so it worked to perfection, even though it did rely on us getting the corners in the first place.

Apparently we’ve now scored more goals in stoppage time (10) than any other team in England. That is not accidental but it is in stark contrast with recent seasons, when the opposition tended to bring on effective fresh legs for the closing stages while we couldn’t do the same – and paid the price. The matchday squad now gives us options, whether through a change in formation, fresh legs in like-for-like changes, and increased physical presence up front when we are chasing games.

We have to keep our fingers crossed for the run-in that we avoid injuries and suspensions. In addition to the 18 in the squad yesterday you can add Maynard-Brewer as and when fit, Mitchell, Kanu and Ahadme in terms of players who would (I hope) expect to be in or around the first team. That may be enough, but we can also draw on Hylton and if needed the youngsters – Laqeretabua and Enslin have at least had a taste of it.

Will it be enough? Nobody knows, but we’re still on a roll and we’ve put ourselves in one of the play-off spots. Barnsley at The Valley on Tuesday night and Stockport away on Saturday have to be negotiated before we can breathe a little easier. But isn’t it a good feeling after a match like yesterday’s to be looking at the table and thinking … ‘eight points behind Wycombe, is it possible … we still have to play them …’?

Two-thirds Over And POTS Still Up For Grabs

Before we embark on the final 30% of the season, one thought – and for me it’s a positive one – is that we are this far into the season and just who will win player of the season is entirely up for grabs (in stark contrast to last season), with a growing number of worthy candidates.

When choosing who to vote for, do you go for the greatest sustained contribution over the full season, not entirely measured by number of league appearances but with that a key indicator, for the player who had the most decisive impact, or for the player who was your favourite, who provided the best moments? Or perhaps a weighted average of all three? It’s a personal choice of course.

If you go for the first option, the leading contenders right now would be Coventry, Gillesphey, Docherty, and Edwards, plus perhaps Jones (moving up the ladder) and Mitchell (going in reverse, through no fault of his own). If it’s the second, Godden has to be in there (17 starts, 11 sub appearances, 10 goals – please refer back to a previous post asking how it was possible that he was not starting regularly given his goals-per-minute ratio), but if Ahadme came off the bench to score a hat-trick in the Wembley play-off final him too. In terms of impact, you also have to add Ramsay and Jones, given that their return has been central to our improved form. If you go for the third, Godden is also in the reckoning but the prime candidate would be Small (please refer to previous post discussing how Jones the boss needed to find a formation that incorporated him). Such a difference he has made. Like Blackett-Taylor before him, when he gets the ball with a chance to run the hairs on the back of your neck immediately rise.

If pushed right now my vote would be a choice between Coventry and Edwards. Edwards has slotted in and performed from day one, only missing out on more games because of Claire’s poor challenge. Coventry has been just about the first name on the teamsheet through the season. All others – plus the likes of Campbell(T), Anderson and Berry – deserve mention in dispatches.

The range of candidates is a fair reflection of a decidedly mixed season, with a bright start, awful period, then the recent upturn. In detail, in the first three games we took all nine points and even after six we had 13 points – which if extended over a full season would have given us 99/100 points, ie promotion form. There followed a run of 13 games with only two wins (remarkably including the one against Birmingham) and 11 points. Extend that over 46 games and you get 39 points for the season – relegation form for sure. That in turn has been followed by a remarkable 29 points from the last 13 games (102/103 for a season). Average it all out and we are of course where we deserve to be, just wish we could replay that middle 13.

There’s little point in looking at how many points we need from the final 14 games to make the play-offs as there are the four/five six-pointers coming up. But with the midweek results going our way we are, for the first time since the opening games, in the position whereby if everyone (theoretically) takes maximum points from their remaining fixtures we will have our season extended!

Now It's Truly Game On

Last weekend and midweek games marked a setback to our play-off ambitions – but nothing more than that as long as we won today, to put us in a good state of mind ahead of the key games in March (inc Leyton Orient, Barnsley Stockport, and Huddersfield). So today, with no disrespect to Exeter (who did after all beat us at their place back in November), and given that in football nothing is given, the base expectation was to take the three points. Beyond this, we wanted to win with a little style, perhaps even some comfort, to send the right message to those around us, even if barring a ridiculous goal difference change we wouldn’t be able to move back into a play-off spot.

And we got pretty much what the doctor ordered. It wasn’t easy for sure as Exeter set up to frustrate and managed to do that for much of the game. But just when things were starting to look a little doubtful, perhaps questions over whether we had the best options out there in a game with little space, we took the lead. Then before doubts about an Exeter late revival might have crept in we scored again. Then to round things off we had a third. Exeter had a few moments, but by and large they couldn’t lay a glove on us, the defence stepping up when they made changes to try and get back into the game. In midfield Anderson stepped up admirably and up front, well we scored three goals, albeit one off their defender. Really nothing to complain about.

The team showed two changes, both enforced. Mannion started in goal in light of Maynard-Brewer’s groin injury, while less expected Anderson replaced Docherty, who was said to have been unwell through the week. This meant two places vacant on the subs bench, with Reid and McIntyre filling those slots, while Watson also rather surprisingly was in the squad at the expense of Mitchell, who had played 60 minutes for the U21s against Millwall. Whether he picked up a knock or whether Jones saw a reason to go with Watson, to give a wing-back option, with McIntyre cover for central defence wasn’t made clear.

After a mixed opening, once the game settled down we assumed control, with Exeter getting men behind the ball, packing out midfield and defending their box with a 5-4-1 leaving Magennis pretty much on his own and their attacking threat limited to set pieces and an occasional break. Trouble was it worked, for 20 minutes. We had a decent appeal for a penalty as Anderson was felled but nothing was given. Otherwise we struggled to make an impression in the final third, which did raise the question whether we might have started with one of the big guys (Aneke, Leaburn or Ahadme) in light of the likely opposition approach.

Just as these concerns were rising we scored. Small did what is now a familiar trick of his. If the opposition doubles up on him wait for the two to converge, chips the ball beyond them and run between them. He did this well and was taken out for his pains. The free-kick was delivered superbly by Berry, dipping into the area of uncertainty. It may have taken a touch off Godden (in the right place as usual), perhaps another, but ended up coming off their defender and into the net.

That settled nerves, although Exeter were never going to change their approach at only one down, even though their first substitution was made after 30 minutes. But we knew we’d need another for breathing space. And we didn’t quite manage that in the remainder of the first half, with crosses not quite converted then right at the end Small roasting his marker and delivering a peach of a cross to the far post. Their defender opted to let it run and Campbell in behind him held off rather than gambling and missed the opportunity.

The stats at the break showed us having had 69% possession with six efforts on goal, just one on target (not the goal), against three and one for them. Just needed the second goal.

That so nearly came on 51 minutes as Campbell delivered a good cross from the left which found an unmarked Anderson. His header wasn’t bad but was too close to their keeper, who blocked it, then managed to save Godden’s attempt to convert the rebound from close in. Shortly after Berry delivered a cross from the other side which also found Anderson, whose header went wide.

To be fair, around this time Exeter were making a game of it, enjoying some possession without creating anything. So when we were denied another penalty as Small went down after a challenge (it wasn’t clear whether or not their defender had got a touch on the ball before making contact with Small) concerns were rising again. But right on cue we extended the lead. A ball forward was headed away but only to Campbell. He was allowed to advance towards the box unchallenged and was able to pick his spot, curling a low shot with his right foot into the corner of the net. Excellent finish, but if we had conceded it we would have been howling about the lack of a challenge.

That really put the seal on things. 2-0 is obviously a dangerous lead, but you really couldn’t see Exeter scoring once, let alone twice. But they had now to press forward more and that inevitably created more space for us. A ball forward had to be headed away by their keeper outside his box. On 74 minutes Jones made the first changes, with Gilbert and Leaburn coming on for Berry and Godden. Exeter did have one moment as a dangerous ball into our box required some desperate defending and the clearance led to a free-kick for them in a decent position outside the box. But Magennis’ shot went into the wall.

On 83 minutes we had the icing on the cake as Leaburn was sent through down the right flank. He had a lot to do and not much support, but took the ball into the box then jinked inside, outside, back inside, then having wrong-footed everyone hit the ball low across their keeper and into the far corner. The only problem was that Exeter’s decision to change ends meant that this wasn’t in front of the Covered End.

Kanu for Campbell and McIntyre for Coventry, then Watson for Edwards. But this was all just to rest a few legs and give people a few minutes, the game was more than done.

We know where the other results leave us in the table and we know what’s coming up next. But we surely can’t go into these key games in better spirits. Before we go to Brisbane Road Leyton Orient will play at Birmingham on Tuesday night, while Barnsley will be at Northampton and Huddersfield at Wigan. Defeats for three of our play-off rivals would be very welcome, but whatever happens to others we have got ourselves into a position where our destiny is in our own hands – even if the others will feel the same way too. Game on.

Paid Back In Kind, But Key Games Still To Come

It had been a while since we went into a league game as clear underdogs and, although the recent run of results left us content that anything out of the game would be a bonus, that doesn’t stop you craving another win, one that would send out a resounding message to the teams around us. We’d beaten them at The Valley back in October by strangling the life out of them in a dogged display, giving them barely a sniff of our goal, with at the other end Kanu running them ragged and laying on the winner for Godden. Yesterday we were paid back in kind.

Their control of midfield and defensive acumen left us with barely a sniff of their goal all game. Our only moments of real threat were Docherty’s blocked shot and Campbell’s good run to the byline wasted by an overhit cross, while our only effort on target (Docherty’s shot probably was also) came with Kanu’s shot from a tight angle easily saved. Other than that we had a header or two from set pieces which might have led to something but didn’t. Birmingham snuffed out our main sources of chances, with Campbell and Small well shackled, leaving Godden and Berry with nothing to feed off.

To our defence’s credit Birmingham weren’t able to run riot, but could easily have been more than one up at the break, even though the match stats show they only had two efforts on target all game. Going into the final stages we were at least still in it and you never know. But Birmingham saw out the game as comfortably as we did at The Valley, spending more time in our half than we did in theirs, leaving us with no cause for complaint (aside from some erratic refereeing and several strategic shoves by Birmingham going unpunished – but set against that was the officials’ failure to spot Maynard-Brewer’s early error).

There were no surprises with the team/squad, no changes made. There was I guess an element in that of laying down the gauntlet, Jones opting against any alterations in light of the opposition. Can’t argue with that, although perhaps there was an argument for freshening things up, with replacements getting increasingly rusty. But hindsight’s a wonderful thing.

After an edgy opening the game’s first real incident came on 11 minutes when Maynard-Brewer was trying to usher a ball forward into the box to enable him to pick it up. Trouble was he missed his final touch, leaving the ball still short, but opted to dive on it anyway. It was clearly still outside the box. Whether the punishment would have been a yellow or a red I’m not sure, but we got away with one. The outcome was made even better by their manager getting a yellow for his protests.

Next up, on 22 minutes we went behind, the only surprise being that it was the result of our mistake. Coventry was trying to shield the ball by the touchline but Stansfield got a foot to it and moved it past him, running onto the loose ball. To compound the error Coventry then lost his footing, leaving Stansfield with a clear run at Gillesphey, with options available. Gillesphey showed him the outside and held off making any challenge, so Stansfield moved it onto his right foot and hit a belter from the edge of the box into the roof of the net. Could Gillesphey have done more to close him down? Perhaps, but his priority as the last man was to try and hold things up. Could Maynard-Brewer have saved it? Possibly, but would have been a fantastic save.

The rest of the half was largely about us chasing shadows and trying to prevent them getting a second. They came close with a free-kick hit well over the wall and down, which beat Maynard-Brewer but struck the outside of the post, then a curler from the edge of the box which also had MB reduced to watching and hoping as it went just wide. Stansfield got the by-line and laid one on for another, which was well saved by Maynard-Brewer. Towards the end of the half we did have our two moments, the Docherty shot and Campbell wriggling free only to blow the cross, but at the break we were relieved not to be further behind.

The stats at half-time showed 58%/42% possession in their favour, with six efforts on goal, two on target, against five and zero for us. Just where the five came from I’m not sure aside from Docherty’s shot, which should have been marked down as on target.

There were two changes by us at the break, one enforced as Maynard-Brewer was replaced by Mannion, clearly the result (later confirmed) of an injury. The other was a change in formation, to a 4-4-2, which saw Small switch over to the left side – having got no change at all in the first half out of Cochrane, an England U20 international who only cost Birmingham something around £1.3m with add-ons – and Campbell more to the right. Did the change work? Hard to say. Yes, to the extent that Birmingham failed to have an effort on target in the second half; no to the extent that we seldom threatened to get back on level terms.

Our first changes, just before the hour mark, were Anderson and Kanu for Berry and Small, with Campbell clearly moving to the right wing. Not long after it was Leaburn and Gilbert for Godden and Coventry, with Aneke surprisingly left unused. If anything the only time we really threatened was not the Kanu shot but rather with around 10 minutes of normal time left Gilbert swung over a peach of a cross. Leaburn stretching got a touch on it but probably diverted it clear as Kanu was much better positioned just behind him. Otherwise the final minutes, including eight of stoppage time, were a damp squib as Birmingham dominated possession, made little attempt to score, but restricted us to desperate clearances that most of the time just came straight back.

It was disappointing for sure, but it wasn’t hard to recognise that Birmingham just had too much for us on the day and that by scoring fairly early were able to play without pressure. Our season isn’t going to be defined by a defeat to them, with no reason for any hangover effect from a first defeat in seven. If there was any sobering effect it was more that Birmingham with their current line-up might be viewed as a reasonable Championship side. If we get into the play-offs and glory be win them, just how much would need to be done to put us in that sort of position?

There’s a full week for the players to rest up and get ready to go again, at The Valley against Exeter. We sit and watch to see what happens on Tuesday night when Leyton Orient and Huddersfield, which both went back above us with victories yesterday, play their games in hand over us, away at Wrexham and Shrewsbury respectively. Then on Saturday something will again change, provided we win of course, with Leyton Orient away at Bolton, Reading hosting Birmingham, and Huddersfield at home to Peterborough. In an ideal world we will be back up to fifth with nobody around us having a game in hand, before we start March with a trip across the Thames to Leyton Orient, host Barnsley, then travel to Stockport. These are the games that are crucial, not yesterday’s.

Nobody Said It Would Be Easy

We knew we’re getting greedy, we know nothing ever runs smoothly in football. But we just wanted to win this one too, to round off the mini-series of five games with 13 out of 15 points, knowing that a win would take us up to fifth with Huddersfield not playing, hopefully closer to Stockport in fourth if they messed up a Bristol Rovers, and aware that next up are some pretty tough fixtures on paper. We were surely also aware that any drop in standards usually sees us come up short and of our poor recent record against Peterborough, a team most would have predicted a good deal higher at this stage of the season than they are.

That backdrop couldn’t really prepare us for the rollercoaster of emotions through the game as, after a sticky start, we took control of the game, peppered their goal, but failed to make the breakthrough. Then in the second half we were handed (quite literally) what we needed, had the advantage compounded by Peterborough reduced to 10 men, then lost our heads in a crazy few minutes and managed – unforgivably in the circumstances - to get caught on the break, conceded a penalty (which could have been accompanied by a red card) to be pegged back, then struggled for 25 minutes or so to regain the lead, only to be rescued in the last minute of normal time by Gillesphey’s header from a corner. My word (to put it politely) we made hard work of that one, but when the dust settled we had the points.

To absolutely nobody’s surprise, Jones named an unchanged starting XI, with the only change on the bench being Anderson returning (after having missed Stevenage for personal reasons), with new loan signing McIntyre missing out.

We began the game poorly, off the pace and looking vulnerable to Peterborough’s lively forwards. Unnecessary free kicks given away, an early error by Jones which almost let them in and resulted in a yellow card for him, guy in behind Gillesphey, all in the first 10 minutes. It had taken us perhaps 30 minutes to get to grips with Stevenage’s set-up on Saturday, but last night we adjusted faster and began to peg them back.

Once that happened you started to see why they have been conceding an average of almost two goals a game. They did manage just about to contain the threat from Small and Campbell down either flank, with the returning Edun limiting the former’s ability to run at him. But a 15-minute spell produced a litany of near misses. An Edwards cross saw Godden almost produce another near post finish, good work down the right saw Berry almost convert a Small cross, Berry had a shot blocked. Berry was then clearly fouled inside the box but nothing given, Campbell was able to use his pace to get in on goal but delivered a weak finish. Finally a Berry shot came back off the post with Steer beaten and closest of all Jones headed back a corner and Godden met it on the full, but his fierce shot was too close to Steer and was pushed away, while Edwards picking up the rebound had his first effort blocked and poked the second wide.

Things did calm down a little after that, Peterborough even managed an attack. But the stats at the break showed we had 63% possession and had nine attempts on goal, four on target, versus two and one for them. It felt like a game in which one goal would probably lead to two or three, just had to get that first one.

Thankfully we didn’t have to wait too long into the second half before it came, although the circumstances were surprising. A ball across their box saw Docherty pounce as the defender slipped. He played it inside to Campbell. His shot appeared to be blocked normally, but joy of joys the ref saw things differently and immediately pointed to the spot. Later the replays on TV did show that, although their defender was close to Campbell, his arm moved out to stop the shot. Good spot by the ref. Godden stepped up and put it beyond Steer’s despairing dive.

Things got better shortly after as their guy moving down the touchline seemed to overrun the ball and lunge in on Small, who took a painful blow. It was clearly a bad challenge, leaving the ref with no option, although it didn’t seem malicious and the replays indicate the guy had tried to flick the ball forward but missed, following through on Small.

Now in complete control surely we would knock the ball around for a while, take all the sting out of it, push them back, and finish off the game with another goal or two. Instead we quite frankly lost our heads. Players started running around intent on getting another immediately and made poor choices. Godden took a shot from an unlikely spot when others were better placed. And we simply forgot that Peterborough did have a game plan, even with 10 men: to spring forward at pace on the break if and when the opportunity arose.

It did and amazingly against 10 we were caught on the break short of numbers. Their guy got goalside of Ramsay. He tried to do just enough to put him off but not to bundle him over, but the forward opted to go to ground anyway and the ref again had little option but to award the penalty, even if the first contact might have been outside the box. The only question then was whether Ramsay would get a yellow or a red. I’m not sure on the rules, obviously it was a goalscoring opportunity, but with a penalty given Ramsay escaped with yellow. But the penalty was converted and stupidly we were back level again.

There was still around half an hour to play, so no need for panic, even if heads were collectively being shaken and I’m sure Addicks watching were, like me, distraught. And our nerves were not eased as, although we had a chance or two, we struggled to make our man advantage pay. Peterborough had a free kick and even though we had 11 against 10, and in Campbell and Small players capable of outpacing defenders, brought all 11 back. From a corner Ramsay had a goalbound header blocked by a defender’s head, Small had a shot saved, but in general Peterborough were containing us better than they had in the first half.

On 71 minutes Jones made his first change, Leaburn coming on for Edwards, which meant Small switching to the left and Campbell to wide right. Ramsay averted rare Peterborough danger, then Leaburn couldn’t quite get on the end of a diverted ball in from Small. Aneke and Gilbert were introduced for Berry and Godden.

With only a couple of minutes of normal time left it seemed it just wasn’t to be, as somehow from Campbell’s ball in Docherty’s header did not find the back of the net, as once again a defender managed to get in the way. But from the corner that resulted we were finally celebrating again, as Gillesphey’s header unlike others somehow managed to evade everyone and end up nestling in the far corner.

We were able to see out the six minutes of stoppage time, with Mitchell coming on for Campbell to help close it out. A mighty sense of relief with the final whistle that two points had not been thrown away after all, with a late Bristol Rovers equaliser against Stockport adding to the enjoyment.

We now go into another mini-spell of five games – away at Birmingham, Exeter at home, away at Leyton Orient, Barnsley at home, then Stockport away. Barnsley may have fallen away of late, with just one point from their last five, and Exeter are on a poor run, despite FA Cup heroics, a draw and five defeats in their last six. But away at Birmingham, Leyton Orient and Stockport are obviously massive games. The Birmingham game may be one we can view as anything from it is a bonus (which is not to say we don’t go there in good spirits and more than capable of taking something).

As for the other two, we’re not going to go looking for draws but the imperative is not to lose. You can only tip the hat to these teams, they are where they deserve to be and are obviously serious contenders. We’ve put ourselves in a position where we’re no longer in desperate need of victories against those around us to try to close a gap, but we can’t let them get away from us again. In an ideal world we draw the three away games, win the two at home, take nine points, then see what the world looks like as we approach the run-in. OK in an ideal world we win them all, but that’s just being greedy, isn’t it?

Tough Task Negotiated Excellently

Three straight wins for Stevenage, including one at Wrexham, to leave them only four points less than us with a game in hand, had turned this game from one we needed to win to get into the top six to one we needed to win to get into the top six and to keep a potential rival for a play-off spot at bay. Games against Stevenage are never pretty and their record of 27 for and 25 against in 27 games only deepened the expectation that this would not be one for the purists, one in which the first goal (if any) would probably be crucial (both teams not having lost this season after taking the lead). Score first, get the win, by whatever means, and move on.   

After some scares in the first half, including one moment that required a superb intervention by Maynard-Brewer to prevent Stevenage taking the lead, we pretty much did just that. Good goals either side of half-time completely changed the picture and after the second we were clearly in the driving seat. With the memory of surrendering a two-goal advantage against Blackpool still fresh, we kept up the pressure – Jones waited until the 88th minute before making changes - and Stevenage, despite making four substitutions in one go, followed by a fifth, never threatened to get back into it. We really should have scored a third or more, but in the end it didn’t matter.

The key question for the team, barring late injuries, would be whether new boys McIntyre and Gilbert would feature/start. Jones opted for no changes to the starting line-up, but both incomers took places on the bench, McIntyre taking the spot vacated by Edmonds-Green and Gilbert replacing Anderson, who it was said was unavailable for personal reasons (clearly whatever they may be we wish the best for him). That did mean that Gilbert would be our only midfield replacement.

Stevenage did have the better of the early exchanges, with their formation – one up top but three in support of him – causing us problems. Defenders weren’t sure where the runners were coming from and the uncertainty encouraged mistakes. Their guy shot into the side-netting from a tight angle. We did have a Berry free-kick from just outside the box hit into the wall, followed by some chaos as the ball was played back in (and I thought a shout for a penalty as their keeper failed to make contact with the ball and landed one on Jones instead), plus Berry headed wide from a good Edwards cross and might have done better. But the key moment came on 19 minutes. Edwards intercepted a pass but only ended up setting it up for their guy to play it forward to one of two onside and in on goal. The one with the ball opted to try to round Maynard-Brewer and he stuck out a timely arm to prevent that, the ball was cleared, and the danger over.

As the half progressed it was pretty even, although we were struggling to create anything going in their final third, despite the threat of Small and Campbell in wide areas. There were promising moments, with a Small cross only just deflected over a waiting Berry, plus a decent run forward and shot from Docherty. But we had to wait until just before the break for the deadlock to be broken, with a really well worked and executed goal. Campbell played the ball in low from the left side, Berry touched it on to Coventry, running across the box. He managed to play the ball back across goal and once more there was Godden in the right place at the right time to prod it home.

That changed the mood in the dressing-room no doubt. The stats at the break showed 53/47 for us for possession and six efforts on goal, two on target, against two and zero for them (which was a little harsh on Maynard-Brewer). Stevenage might have felt slightly aggrieved to be behind at that point, but can have no complaints about what followed.

Just a couple of minutes into the second half and we had some breathing space. A long ball forward was flicked on by Godden for Campbell on the edge of the box. He managed to get in a good, rising shot but it cannoned back off the junction of post and bar, only to drop for Berry to plant it back into the net on the half-volley. Excellent technique from him as it was one that was easy to blaze over.

The game is so much easier to play when you are 2-0 up and you have to say Stevenage’s response was rather lame, they looked beaten from that point on. It turned into a succession of near misses/lost opportunities for us: Godden controlled a long ball forward and almost set up Berry, Docherty set up Small in space but instead of trusting to shoot with his right foot he cut inside and the effort was blocked, then another break saw his shot from a good position saved.

As the clock ticked down the balance shifted clearly in favour of just making sure we did nothing silly. Leaburn, Kanu and Gilbert were brought on for Godden, Campbell and Berry, with Leaburn taking on the task of wasting time around the corner flag. We saw out the final stages and four minutes of stoppage time quite comfortably.

It ended up as a very good all-round performance. Nobody had a bad game and a man of the match award could have gone to one of several. Jones was commanding in defence, Coventry excellent in midfield, and Godden scored another, while Maynard-Brewer made a decisive contribution whatever the stats may say (55/45 possession, 15 shots and five on target, against three and none for them). Sixth spot was ours, with Leyton Orient engaged in the cup, and we now move on to Peterborough at The Valley on Tuesday night in I’d imagine very good spirits.