Last season, everything seemed to go our way.
There were games we deserved to win, and obviously did, yet others when we seemed to show little and ended up grinding out a result.
I couldn't help thinking of our away game at Bournemouth, just a few months ago, as I plodded out of St Andrews stadium yesterday.
At Bournemouth, we looked out of sorts and for my money, probably deserved a draw at best.
We could tell we were having 'one of those seasons' when all 3 points were claimed after a bit of a scramble, deep into injury time.
How we cheered.
Yesterday, the boot was on the other foot.
Charlton took the game to Birmingham.
For the majority of the game we looked in control and most certainly worthy of a place in the Championship.
There were many chances missed though and at Half Time I was quite worried that Birmingham were going to come back in the second half, energised and filled with purpose.
As it turned out, they really couldn't be bothered and it looked as though Charlton were going to return home with a totally deserved 0-0 draw.
I know for a fact I'd have been pleased with that outcome, had I looked into a crystal ball before the game.
On 82 minutes, Cort nodded in at the far post and the 1600 + Charlton support rose as one to cheer, climb on each other and generally muck about with gay abandon.
It was the catalyst for hundreds and hundreds of Blue Noses to make for the exits, many with faces twisted into more ugly versions of the quite frankly acne ridden ones they had just moments before.
Some seemed to be offering out our support as they made throat slitting gestures.
Ah, kids of today eh?
Those more loyal Birmingham supporters suddenly came alive as they tried to (finally) get behind their team.
I took a picture of the scoreboard, expecting it to be a triumphant memory.
Lee Clark made a switch and a Serbian bean pole came on for the final 4 minutes.
He made quite an impression.
He jogged on, head butted a Charlton player, (difficult to see who from my view), then scored the equaliser with the last action of the game.
A shame not to hang on to all 3 points but the performance must have given Chris Powell and his players a massive boost of confidence.
Pre game, I was worried our team may have been good enough to canter to promotion but may well struggle in what is effectively Premier League 2.
After yesterday, I think we can all sigh a little bit, have a few 'what if?' moments but finally remember we were within seconds of beating a team that lost only once at home last season.
A Casualty Rating
The Lacoste polo is going to Rhoys Wiggins.
He looked composed and fully at home at this level.
"Viva Rhoys Wiggins!" we all sang.
The Primark novelty slogan t -shirt is going to the Birmingham support.
The main reason I haven't been to St Andrews since our game there in 1998 is due to the incredibly intimidating atmosphere outside the ground as I left.
I'm too old to be chased down unfamiliar roads and I'd sworn never to return.
In the event, I thought I'd give Birmingham a second chance.
Oh dear oh dear.
Birmingham used to be one of those grounds where you couldn't chat to the person next to you because of the terrific passion and volume of their fans.
(I'm not pretending the Valley resembles the home of Galatasaray as we all know it can be pretty quiet too but then we don't trade on our fearsome 'lions den' reputation.)
The period of uninspiring football under McLeish must have sucked the life out of this once quite volatile set of supporters.
So, it's home to Leicester on Tuesday.
I'm pretty sure big Yann Kermorgant will be really up for this one!
2 comments:
Thanks CC. Glad you were rewarded with a confidence boosting performance. I'll take it that the Blue noses were less ballsy towards us than they were Barnet in the week!
You going to Forest?
It all seemed fairly quiet after the game. Maybe due to their last minute equaliser they were feeling benevolent?
I'm still debating Forest. It's likely at this stage.
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