Pompey will be toughest test to date
VIEW FROM THE CLAYTON END
A MIXED week for Stanley then with two trips away from home.
A fantastic result at the weekend followed by a drumming on Tuesday night at the hands of our latest rivals just North of The Capital.
I think we’d have taken three from six. I honestly do.
You might shake your head, but you would have done too.
To go away and win at Peterborough shows what this team is capable of.
They’re young, hungry and beaming with quality all over the field.
Don’t get me wrong, we rode our luck more than a bit.
They hit the bar twice, should have buried a chance deep into the second half but he puts it just wide, but that’s always going to happen.
Maxted has looked good cover for Ripley should we need him again at points during the year, but I will be pleased to welcome Connor back on Saturday.
He puts my mind at ease a touch more between the sticks and Maxted may have done better at some points in the last 2 games if I’m being extra picky.
Luton burst our bubble on Tuesday and put us well and truly to the sword.
Thing is, I don’t think any of us care too much.
You never want to lose a game but that’s a god-awful trip for a Tuesday night and their home atmosphere is like a cauldron. Couple that with an unbeaten home record and we might just be walking into the lion’s den.
And that we did. It still can’t really shake my feeling of bliss with Stanley at the minute and I’m not going to dwell on the result much.
These things happen, we’re going to concede four every so often, may as well be now.
The only thing that disappointed me was that Danny Hylton got a hat-trick.
That’s a bit contradictory of me because I’m all for characters in football. Just don’t do it against us next time, Danny.
Luton’s cup final may have ended in defeat for us, but we have bigger fish to fry at the weekend.
Plus, that League 2 trophy is still sparkling nicely in our trophy cabinet.
But, it is a warning for us. Teams can dismantle us in League One.
We need to make sure we don’t suffer two defeats on the spin.
We’re flying high and it’s all well and good but I’m hanging on to the fact we won’t have that classic two months without a win that’s plagued us for a few seasons.
If we have that at this level we may just find ourselves dragged into a relegation scrap. And my heart can’t handle that.
I’m sure it won’t come to that but it’s early days and anything can happen in this game.
Portsmouth are another club who would have thought they’d seen the end of us after promotion a few years ago.
Well, surprise! You can’t get rid of us that easily.
It’s the pick of the fixtures in the division and they always bring a few up with them so I can’t wait for Saturday to come.
It’ll be our toughest test yet and one we cannot take too lightly, especially after Tuesday.
So, we go again, let’s get behind the team and make it a fortress like they do at Fratton.
If we can’t do that, for goodness sake, just drone out that damn bell!