We lost yesterday 2-1 at QPR. Only our second away defeat of the season and we became the first away side to score at Shepherd's Bush since the opening day of the season.
Instead of the usual moans and groans fans were actually praising the way the team battled hard against a team loaned with players of premier league experience.
I haven't seen the game yet as the full ninety minutes has yet to be put on our club website, but the response from fans is certainly different to last season when away drubbings were the norm.
The one downside though was John Eustace picking up another booking. This means he misses next Saturdays home clash with Sheffield Wednesday. Eustace has played an important role in front of the back four and will be missed. Those who point out that the Owls are a week side surely must have had that illusion shattered by their 5-2 demolition of Reading yesterday.
There are many options to cover for Eustace's absence. The most logical one could be to play Wisdom in his holding role and recalling Freeman or Smith to Right Back. Personally I prefer Freeman as his defensive skills are superior to Smith. Adam Smith is a threat moving forward, but the first job of a defender is to defend.
Kalifa Cisse continues to be monitored. The club has been looking at him in training. There does need to be some competition for Centre Half. Richard Keogh has failed to reproduce the form he showed last season and Jake Buxton who always gives his all is not the long term solution.
The signing of Cisse and the return of Zak Whitbread when fit will give some much needed options in the middle of defence.
The most worrying position for me is left back. Craig Forsyth simply isn't a left back. We have struggled with the position for too many years now. Michael Hoganson is a left back, but Nigel Clough seemed reluctant to play him. Steve McClaren has only used Forsyth so far, so perhaps he too isn't convinced that Hoganson is ready.
If our defence was tightened up a bit make no mistake this would be a top six side. Shaun Barker is chomping at the bit to return, but fans should not have high expectations of a player coming back from such a horrific injury. To expect him to simply come back and return to his previous form straight away would be like living in cloud cuckoo land.
What was good to see yesterday was that we were showing intent with making attacking substitutions. No sign of sit back and defend. Fans will always respond better from positive play.
On to Saturday and the visit of Sheffield Wednesday. Despite their thrashing of Reading yesterday I fully expect a home win. However, it's essential that the defence is tightened. We don't want any repeat of last season that saw two games with them, leading 2-0 in both and only managing two draws.
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