Don’t worry, Town are on track to stay up again...

since the outset, which was nine games ago, David compares instead how Town are doing against the same opposition in the same matches as last season.

And his findings reveal Town are actually on the same number of points, two, as last season (because Cardiff City, who they drew with, were not in the division last term), and their goal difference and goals scored records are better.

“Many people are comparing last season’s good start with this one’s poor start, but I look at it differently,” said David.

“The comparison I use is this season’s opponents compared with the same opponents last season – and the results.

“It shows we are doing better this season, discounting perhaps the hammering at Manchester City.”

Town lost 3-0 at home to Chelsea at the start of this season, compared with a 3-1 defeat last term, while the 6-1 defeat at Manchester City is much worse than the goalless draw achieved at the Etihad in 2017-18.

Town drew 1-1 at Everton this time, whereas it was a 2-0 defeat a year ago, while Wagner’s side improved on the scorelines against Crystal Palace, Leicester and Tottenham, even though they still ended in defeats.

The 1-1 draw at Burnley matched last season’s 0-0 outcome and the 1-0 home defeat by Liverpool was two goals better for Town than last season’s effort, a 3-0 loss.

So compared to results against the same opposition last season, Town have scored three more goals, but also conceded one more.

So the goal difference this time is minus 14 compared with minus 16 – points gathered the same, two.

“The six matches beginning with Everton have seen us produce consistently good performances,” said David.

“Even Leicester was pretty good, spoiled by failing to guard against the Foxes’ breaking fast routine. Virtually every man is up to Premier League standards now.

“Billing is really coming into his own now and has forced us to play three midfielders, giving us better balance.

“Goals are the problem, however. How perceptive of me to say that!

“I begin to think that Laurent Depoitre and Steve Mounie are not up to the job – they are short on mobility and agility,” he added.

“Top-quality centre-backs are too good for them. If we are playing ‘on the grass’ as David Wagner always says, do we need tall men?

“I would try Elias Kachunga, with his positional sense, mobility and awareness at the front, or even Abdelhamid Sabiri with his flair and imagination.”