This is the team Harry built!
I have to admit I'm getting that buzz again; it wasn't there last season but it's back now and how I love it! When I woke up yesterday morning the first thing I thought of; 'Matchday!'
Winning six out of eight and conceding just the two goals not only breeds confidence in the players but also the fans; obviously Harry and his coaches have raised the bar and the players are up for it and the noise the crowd made shows the fans are up for it too!
It was great to see the return to the starting line up of Ali Faurlin and making his first start, Niko Kranjcar. Joey Barton starting gives the whole team a boost and again it lifts the fans; I'd have never written that last season!
When the former Newcastle man scored after just four minutes I thought Middlesbrough were in deep trouble; if we'd taken a few more chances I think that could have been the case. Now I knew Kranjcar was good from his days at Portsmouth and Tottenham; he put on a masterclass! Now just imagine when he is properly match fit!
We kept attacking and a second through a penalty was no more than we deserved; Charlie Austin sending goalkeeper Steele the wrong way to score his third league goal of the season. His head must be full of lumps and bumps today; the Boro defense often mistaking his head for the ball!
Throughout the whole game the clean sheet record never really looked in doubt; anything that Rob Green went for he got! We played it out from the back and looked very comfortable.
I do have some advice for Tom Carroll; go to the gym! Please don't get me wrong, he has pace and skill but he could be knocked off the ball by someone as little as SWP! He needs to bulk out or he'll lose more tackles than he'll win and it's purely down to strength and muscle.
The passing around by the whole team was a joy to watch and at one point we put thirty six passes together; reminded me of the great Brazil side s of the past; yes it was just like watching Brazil!
Even the physios had a race when a player from each side went down; and QPR won that one as well!
At half time 'The Tigercubs' went onto the pitch; it's great that they have been going five years now and the smiles on all the kids' faces was a joy to watch.
Next up is Barnsley at home next Saturday. This is a team that have scored as many goals as us, only we've conceded two while they have conceded twenty four goals!
Top of the league and loving it!
The Wig