My train back from
Northallerton arrives at Kings Cross at 13.43 and then it’s a dash across
London to make the kick-off. The 'voice of darts' Russ Bray is on the pitch and he's invited by Jeremy Nicholas to announce the teams. He rasps out our side like
a hungover Ray Winstone who's just swallowed a packet of Fisherman’s
Friends for a dodgy throat.
Part-time Matt is in
Sweden looking at the Northern Lights – only couldn’t he have waited for our
trip to Barnsley to see them? Or maybe he's on a secret Abba tribute tour. In a bid to make the blog he texts: ”Have
been studying statues at Kiruna Cathedral of human states from prayer to
desperation – reminded me of WHU.” But Fraser, Nigel (who thankfully makes no rash predictions of "cricket scores" and "floodgates opening") and his pal Michael, a man
who wrote a book about Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart from Doctor Who, are all
present.
We have a new team on
the pitch with the Gang of Four returning from suspension and Baldock fit to
start up front. We create several chances, but as usual come up against an
inspired goalkeeper in City’s Murphy. He saves with his feet from Nolan and
then makes a great stop from Collison’s shot. Faubert has a shot just wide — “that was novel
from Faubert” suggests Nigel — and it’s clear we need to be patient for the
breakthrough. Nolan has a couple of lobs over the bar. Tomkins has a great game forcing another inspired save from Murphy and causing lots of problems going forward, but generally we make City’s
defence look solid, while they threaten occasionally on the break.
MURPHY'S LAW
In the second half,
after an early scare, we batter their goal once more, although we have no
natural winger and all our crosses are delivered from deep. Murphy tips
Baldock’s shot on to the bar and palms away a Collison header.
Finally the
breakthrough comes on 66 minutes, McCartney crosses from the left, Tomkins heads
across goal and Nolan places his header in the corner before running off to do
his chicken dance. That’s his seventh goal of the season and we need Mark Noble
to show a similar ability to put the ball in the net.
Frank Nouble comes on
and looks lively making some fine runs down the flanks, After Carew and Cole
it’s a pleasant change to see a pacy, 100 per cent fit striker. We should make
it two when a poor back pass leaves Nouble clear. His shot is blocked by Murphy
and Noble slices the rebound wide of an empty net.
Predictably we almost
allow City back into it in the final ten minutes. On full time Tomkins makes a
great block, and the ball loops up to deflect on to the bar. This happens just
as it’s announced that Jack Collison is man of the match, when surely it should
have been Tomka or Nolan for making the breakthrough.
WE ARE SECOND IN THE LEAGUE
We hold on and I text
Matt that it's the greatest 1-0 victory ever seen at Upton Park, which strangely
he doesn’t believe. Results go our way with Boro and Southampton both losing
3-0 to leave WHU joint top, but second on goal difference.
We retreat to the real
ale-free zone of the Central where we’re pestered as usual by that woman
selling iffy DVDs and watch Joey Barton get sent off.
Big Sam does his Dr
Pangloss impersonation afterwards by claiming that we have played “very, very well”
which we haven’t, but we have at least shown patience and ground out a result
against a team playing above itself. Bring in a striker and a new winger and we
might even give someone a tonking.
