In a week when I saw Rufus Wainwright change into Judy Garland before my very eyes, well he has got great legs, I didn't think Saturday could bring any more shocks and, let's face it, it didn't, we won away from home and Barrett scored from a corner at Northampton. Kev who? It was all in the stars.
Though it was a touch surreal at Euston station at 11 in the morning looking at the platform board. 10 of the 14 platforms, due to engineering works, showed all the trains terminating at Northampton, blimey, it was going to be a big crowd. (I could have saved twenty quid as well, nobody checked my ticket there and back!)
With 40 minutes to spare what do you do at Euston now it resembles a Turkish bazaar? Now I love the German but even she would be surprised if I returned with some Satsuma Body Lotion, or maybe she wouldn't, and a Swatch watch would be out of the question. One could eat bagels from Izzy's, sandwiches from Upper Crust and the baguettes at the exotically named Delice de France have to be seen to be believed. Well the price of the things certainly does as do the accents of the three poor girls working out of the shoe box trying to serve them, from Paris they aint. Don't ask for a B.L.T., you're be there all day.
In Northampton after 50 quick minutes and only 12.30 I decide to walk to the ground. Arsenal v Man. Utd. at the bowling alley or Sex on the Beach at the local T.G.I.'s, decisions. On the way I spy an oasis amongst the Wickes on the industrial estate, the Thomas A' Becket. Having gone to Tommy More school I'm just a sucker for pubs named after Catholic martyrs and what a pub. I felt I had walked in to the Northampton annual meeting of the Sopranos Appreciation Society, the cream of Cobbler manhood was packed into this place. Still, several screens were showing the game and a pint of Young's for 2.45 was good enough for me. I can do as good an impression of Sivio Dante as anybody.
Sadly I missed Fergies's face as Gallas scored the last minute equaliser as I still had a good 20 minute walk to the ground. At 2.55 I could see hundreds of supporters snaking around another poor example of a new stadium built out of town, please let ours be better, so was surprised the kick off was only delayed by five minutes.
Tilly had another shock for us previewers, not by dropping Black, we all saw that coming, but by playing the Moose in his place. That Bailey-MaCormack partnership just too good to break up, however as both got booked Captain
Kev may not be sitting on the bench for too long.
A game of two halves? In fact Northampton were a team of two halves. Great going forward in the first half, they could have been two up at half time, they consistently looked shaky as we pushed them back, rarely at first, more so in the second period, especially as they searched for the equaliser. Penalty? Jury's out on that one, not clear from where I was, but muted complaints from the team. Anyhow my danger man Captain Kirk wanted to be beamed up after striking the post and, whoops, missing a follow up he shouldn't have gone for in the first place. Free kick to us danger over. Stephen Collis proceeded to make any discussion re him and Darryl irrelevant as he produced a couple of top flight saves. One I was surprised to be seen given as a corner as he must have got a finger tip to it as it flashed on to the top of the bar and to safety. Sorry, free kick at Leeds, size does matter.
However, the lack of Richards height was made a nonsense by Peter Clarke and Adam Barrett as they won ball after ball in the air from the Peter Crouch presence of Cobbler centre forward Hubertz.
At 0-0 and what we had got away with, a win was certainly now on the cards and so it was to prove. In fact after Adam rose to the Gower corner and powered his header into the corner of the net, a carbon copy of his first against the same team three years ago at the same ground at the same end, those home fans must hate him, we could have got another couple as Leon, suprisingly, snatched at a couple, one from 12 yards should have killed off the game. The Prince came on and had a one on one, we were all chuffed he got it on target, but he should have made the keeper work harder.
Collis continued to grab high ball after high ball out of the air with one moment of open mouth horror when a great shot from a Cobbler midfielder on the edge of the box seemed to break the back of the net in the fourth minute of injury time. Luckily it was literally the back of the net missing the right hand post by inches and rebounding of teh ad board. The home fans were on their feet and had to sit back down in embarrassed silence, the game was ours. Another professional job done away from home. We've risen from Graham Hick to Mark Ramprakash, now off to Nottingham and the chance to become Graham Gooch.
Marks out of 10;
Collis - 9; Why not? Only a 9 when a keeper is falling all over the box making desperate save after even more desperate saves. The bottom line is without his first half efforts we could have out of the game. His height and presence makes Barrett and Clarke grow a couple of inches. It might even have made Kirk go an inch ot two more to the right, which was enough. In the second half he grabbed everything without a fuss before more could be made of it. Only sad I can't make him man of the match, that has to go to a certain centre half who was in the game for the whole 90 minutes.
Hunt - 7; Not the consistent performance we've had from Lewis recently as he had a very tricky opponent up against him. This was a very good team going forward. However, in that Lewis way, he got on with the job, gave 100% and continues to deserve his place in the side.
Barrett - 8; A terrific game from Adam, as it had to be, and another goal! Won much more in the air than he should do while some of his bravery when throwing himself in front of Northampton players preparing to shoot should deserve some sort of medal. Outstanding, as we have come to expect.
Clarke P. - 9; In my opinion, even with the handball, (if it was), the odd panicky clearance, (and I would rather see panic and the ball in row Z then trying to dribble out of his own area), the most complete display by a centre half at this football club since his namesake, Sir Paul, left the club. I saw far more of Peter in the second half than I would have wanted with only a 1-0 lead but he took on all comers, lapped it up, and came back for more. Awesome.
Hammell - 8; Sometimes just seems to be playing in his own little twilight zone, he just has far much time in this league. I hope we go straight back up or the little Scotsman could well be off. That left foot stroked the ball about with such class he simply can't be dropped when Richards finally gets fit lack of height at the back or not.
Moussa - 6; This was tough. A very good 6 no doubt and showed his obvious promise at times while certainly tightening up the right wing more than Black. Left Lewis a little exposed on occasions while giving the ball away at inopportune moments. Had chances to set the forwards on their way when the play opened up in the Cobblers half after our goal but showed understandable hesitation. Let's see him at home v lesser opponents next week.
McCormack - 8; Actually did not notice him as much as usual as he quietly, for him, went about his business. Typical busy performance breaking up attack after Northampton attack. Strong as ever in the tackle was unluckily booked in the first half, honestly!
Bailey - 7; His first half booking, for arguing, so cementing his tag as the new Maher, seemed to put him out of stride for a while. The odd pass actually going astray! However got back on top his game towards the end as his defensive talents had a chance to shine for once.
Gower - 6; The mystery that is Mark 2007/08 continues. If he could refind the footballing ability to match his vocal talents, it was like an episode of Deadwood at times in the first period, the problem that Tilly has on the two wings may go away, at least on one. Can't play with him, can't play without him. Glad T&B get paid to make the decisions at this football club and I only write this stuff.
Clarke - 7; Arguably his poorest game at the club but your never going to see Leon run all around the pitch, he has Harry for that. Missed a bit of a sitter in the second half when he had done all the hard work. Why a 7 then? He has more skill than any other forward at the club and still showed it at times while making his marker work harder than it may seem from the safety of row M in the away end. Needs the ball to his feet more often than he was able to get as Mac and Nick had to focus on defensive duties.
Hooper - 6; Is the jury still out on Hoops? Timing Hoops, it's all in the timing of the run. Maybe we should allow Lingy to see what he can do with the boy while Mac is allowed to get a decent run? Frustrating.
Subs; The Prince gets a 6. On for Hooper a touch later than I would have liked but better than not atall. Did OK in that Harry kind of way and, as said earlier, at least he made the keeper save the ball when he was put clean through. We've all seen them go six feet over!
The ref; First game in the league I'm told. I'll give him a 6 as he at least calmed down after a crazy first 30 when he was pissing off both sets of supporters with some strange decisions.