Hi everyone.
Our winning run continues. We have now won our last five league games and are unbeaten since the end of August. But we are not getting carried away.
We had a good win against Hull. It was another tough game but vital that we got the three points. Teams like Hull are always going to frustrate you so to win 1-0 was important. I got our goal. Gavin Mahon played the ball in behind them, I pushed my way through, took a touch and put it in the net.
We then won 3-0 at Coventry which was another good win. They have not had the rub of the green but Iain Dowie has made them a difficult side to play against. So to score three times, away from home and not concede was almost perfect, but it was still nowhere near our full potential.
It was nice to score again. It was a set-piece, Danny Shittu, who is a monster in the air, won the ball and I just followed it up, swivelled and put it in with my left foot. It’s always nice to score with your weaker foot.
Going into Monday’s game with Crystal Palace, we knew Bristol City and West Brom were on form. But we are not looking back, only forward.
Neil Warnock has just gone there and his players will be out to impress their new manager.
I scored my fifth goal in five games in a 2-0 win. I was pleased with it too. Adam Johnson cut inside from the left. He had about three defenders around him so I just peeled off and gave myself some space and got the pass. The keeper was trying to steady himself so I thought I would just pull it back across him from the edge of the box and it went in the bottom corner.
The gaffer has been telling me and Darius [Henderson] to stay more central and focus on getting in the box if our wingers have the ball, so it was pleasing that it came off.
I celebrated the goal by blowing a kiss to my daughter as I knew she would be watching the game on Sky. She would have given me some stick if I hadn’t. She is three years old so just about knows what is going on.
I’m on a good run at the moment. It’s always nice to score but I think I bring more to the game than just goals. But it’s a team game and I would not be getting the goals if it was not for my team-mates.
Strikers are judged on goals, as are midfielders. The more they score the better it is for the team. I have been out with an injury but I think I am up and running now. Confidence is high.
Palace made history when they brought on a 15 year old called John Bostock. Jobi McAnuff, who played at Palace last season, was talking about him and said it looked pretty easy for him when they played together. He came on and got stuck in. He showed no nerves at all. Fair play for Neil Warnock. If you are good enough, you are old enough.
We are six points clear at the top of the league but the gaffer keeps telling us to take one step at a time. We don’t believe the talk that we are as good as promoted already. We are not being complacent.
We have a tough game on Saturday when West Brom come to Vicarage Road. Hopefully the fans will get behind us as they always do.
The gaffer got linked with the Bolton job last week. I’m not surprised and expect him to be linked with other jobs that come up. He’s part of the new breed and has been successful in the short time he’s been a manager.
His man-management skills are excellent. He deals with all sorts of characters, everyone is different, but he just seems to know how to deal with people. Whether you need a kick up the backside or an arm round your shoulder, he just seems to know. We all enjoy working for him and the fans like him.
In the end Gary Megson got the Bolton job. I played under him at Forest but it did not go well. He told me I was the last choice striker and not part of his plans. I’m sure most players have heard that at some point in their career. It was hard to take but I did not think ‘what am I going to do?’ I just worked hard, went to Leeds on loan and ended up in Watford.
Martin Jol’s sacking was disappointing. Managers are not getting a fair amount of time to get things right. It takes a long time. It took Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger years to get it right. But it’s a pressure game now. There is lots of money involved.
Speak to you next week.
Laters.
I was wondering what you think of our Argentinian signing Santiago Aloi?
Leo Fogg
He’s a young player adjusting to the pace of the football. It’s a slower game in Argentina. He’s been training with the first team and doesn’t look to have any fear. He has ability and will be one for the future.
Do you or your team-mates have any pre-match superstitions?
Steve Cobb
Not really, but I always make sure I am the last one to get changed. We all come into the dressing room but I just and chill out. Everyone is different though. Jordan Stewart gets a rub, but that’s probably because his body is falling apart. Danny Shittu will have his iPod on listening to some music. He just zones out. Before the game he’ll splash cold water on his face to wake him up.