Wasn't it nice to have a nice relaxing Sunday when we'd won the day before. Even in our lofty position this is only the third win on a Saturday since mid December -twelve games. Who would have thought it at 4.15?
Travelling up from TN31 on the South Coast my match days last longer than most - a minimum of 8 hours devoted to the game. The first decision is Train or Car - I have to get across the Thames. Preferably I have a drive to Ashford, HS1 to Stratford and rocky ride to Prittlewell however Crossrail has put paid to that recently. So now it's drive and risk the tunnel or train and extend the day by another hour.
I was lucky I risked the tunnel and only queued from junction 2 - the left hand bore had been closed for a time. Lucky it wasn't August with holiday traffic.
So I parked up just before 2pm, picked up the team news on Twitter -oh dear one up front Thompson and Cox on the bench. What's that about? The Phil came on the radio and explained it all. The back four who kept a clean sheet against prolific scorers Coventry were rewarded by keeping their place in the team. Theo was still stiff from Tuesday and he had to combat Walsall's three centre halves as we never do well against them. Nick asked change of formation - no Wordsworth is playing up front. Well that's all right then. I thought he must have brought Amos in so he look Oztumer in the eye - reasonable.
Had a stroll round Priory Park to stretch my old legs - didn't want to be getting stiff after the drive. Picked up a programme - check to see if we had still beaten Northampton 2-1 and lost at Peterborough 4-1 - yep must be getting old my memory is playing up. Oh and when did Walsall become Charlton - more confused - I could have sworn they were the Saddlers?
There were nice pics of proper footballers Dave Cusack and Micky Stead
Game kicks off and its clear its slipped Phil's mind to tell Wordsworth that he is playing up front - mind you Wordsworth's first real contribution was a perfectly timed crunching tackle on Oztumer which put him out of the game. This was followed on the other side by an assault on McLaughlin's ankle which didn't look great and took him along time to run off.
We lob a few balls in to Nile which bounce off his head rather than him directing them at goal. Oh for Bill Garner. Then surprise surprise Walsall pass the ball from their own half into our goal without any one getting near them. The blow me a few minutes later we help them to do it again. Note - both times their full back got right to the line before pulling a cross back.
The rest of the half apart from a rocket from Wordsworth being brilliantly saved drifted into nothing. They didn't know what to do with a 2-0 lead and we new we had to wait until the second half to attack properly - after all we had been practising at Gillingham and Bristol Rovers (actually our packed midfield was clueless. A resigned hush hung over the Hall with most thinking have I really got to sit through another 45 minutes of this. I thought Amos looked a tidy player let down by others. Quick feet like Peter Butler and Luke Guttridge. It's what we lack
At half time I sent my text to my wife - Losing 2-0 I said. They're hopeless she said - she claims she knows nothing about football. Before the why do you waste you time going text came through. I texted her we're going to win 3-2. She said how come. I said Ehm wishful thinking on my part. She said Cosmically Order it.
http://thecosmicorderingsite.com/
So our comeback had nothing to do with Phil - I was because my wife cosmically ordered it.
Innis gets his customary booking, Phil can't risk another. Jason comes on and plays like a man possessed. Pick the ball up and run at them. Alleluia! Theo some pace and movement up front.
A quick free kick Atkinson goes to the line crosses Nile can dive instead of jump and powers a header into the net. Another free kick half cleared to Anton 2-2. Another free kick and Coxy must have been watching Lanzini on his Iphone on the bench and the cosmically ordered score materialises.
Driving home I hear Phil wax lyrical on how one up front was producing loads of chances and that it was Innis's yellow that forced him into substitutions and that there's so many games coming up that Nouble and Mooney would have to start up front in some. At least Paul Clark has some sense in his match summary. We have an attacking force that's where our relative strength is so go for it. Don't over think or give the opposition too much respect. And actually trust your players.
Jason turned the game, Nile was excellent and managed 90 minutes.
I arrive home at 7.30 to congratulate my wife and tuck into my dabs fresh from Hastings beach.
There's a lot to learn.
The standard in League 1 must be the worse I can remember.
Really there is no one to fear.
Don't ever go one up front again. Remember Sheff Utd.
If your best players are fit play them.
Encourage running at defenders - it wins free kicks.
Get to the line before crossing the ball its so much harder to defend.
Oh and everyone practise Cosmic Ordering. We can do it.
And on the history of comebacks - April 1st 1988. 2-0 down to Wigan - fighting relegation. Step up Donut from the spot, Martin Ling and the David Crown wonder goal. 6 wins in the last 8 games Paul Clark kept us up after the Dick Bate shambles.