After the pride comes Stockport

Hand up to anybody who successfully predicted we wouldn't get hammered by Colchester and very nearly win the game? Yes, we've spoken about the importance of not getting too carrier away after a good performance that doesn't result in a win, but I think we can justifiably feel proud on this one.

Frankly, geting any kind of result against Colchester is impressive. And Ryan Harley's free-kick! What a stunner.

And now we head away to Stockport. If Colchester's one of those 'bloody hell, where did that come from' results, then Stockport are winnable and the kind of game we should at least be getting a point from if we're looking to pull clear of relegation.

Let's hope we can keep up the momentum. Let's hope Fleetwood's goal gives him the confidence to grab another. Let's even, shock, pick an unchanged side.

Win this and we're starting to pull away from the dreaded drop zone. Lose and it's not the end of the world, although we'll be closer to position 21 again. It's becoming a very interesting and entertaining season.

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FA Cupped

If a 4-0 win can be described as dull, then yesterday's FA Cup tie at Nuneaton could fall under that category. You can only beat what's in front of you, the saying goes, and we did that without ever looking either good or bad. Professional, I believe, is the adjective.

Which is a good thing, by the way. The ghosts of Curzon Ashton have been well and truly exorcised.

By half-time we'd scored four and were cruising. Second half, the foot came off the gas and Nuneaton were nicely contained. They had a couple of decent efforts but the evergreen Andy Marriott was equal to it.

The goals, similarly, weren't particularly exciting. Two goals from Big Matty Taylor from corners, a long range effort from Barry Corr that had a bit of power but should have been easy enough to save. Inexplicably the goalkeeper decided to get it bounce into the goal. And finally, a comedy own goal after their keeper palmed a through ball onto a defender and watched it trickle over the line.

This probably sounds like HaL is not impressed. Far from it. Having seen Charlton flail at Northwich earlier today, and us at that place last season that there's no need to name now, it takes something to put in a professional performance in a potential banana-skin of a tie.

If we're being critical, then the forward line is still a concern. The defence and midfield were excellent but I still can't work out what time make of Barry Corr, who occasionally looks awesome and occasionally looked like he should be at Nuneaton's level. That said, his movement was very good and he just needs a few more starts to get into some kind of rhythm.

Stuart Fleetwood, on the other hand continues to baffle. I'm sure there's a good striker in there somewhere, yet for large periods of the game I forgot he was on the pitch. But it was a great run that led to the comedy own goal and there were flashes of genius. Only flashes, mind.

But then I'm biased and quite possibly mad as I think we should be starting with Richard Logan and Ben Watson. There's a reason I'm not a football manager.

What was great about yesterday, though, was Nuneaton as a club. Their clubhouse was a tidy little bar and the home fans and officials were friendly and chatty. A lovely little club and one I'd be happy to go back to.

Plus, it's always a bonus to see one of your heroes on the terraces, and Dean Moxey, who this blog is named in honour of, had the day off after Derby's Friday game, paid his way, and stood on the terraces with the travelling Grecians. Even though he's no longer at the club, he's a pure City legend.

And what do we get as a reward for our wonderful victory yesterday. Away in the second round to cocking Milton Keynes 'Franchise FC' Dons. Possibly the only team I didn't want in the entire draw.

Arse and double arse. We'll just have to beat them, and beat them well, won't we.

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The buzz is back

Ok, let's not get ahead of ourselves or too excited, but yesterday was exactly what the doctor ordered. A 3-0 win over Brentford was just the tonic after a few disappointing results. It's the kind of game we need to win, we should be winning and we can win, if we're to stay up in League One.

Brentford, it seemed, weren't at the races, and City were clicking nicely. Great to see Bertie get on the scoresheet, as he's been one of our best players this season, and the squad had a much more balanced look and feel to it. A couple of crackers from Noone and Tully as well, a frankly nobody deserves a goal more than Tulls. When he last scored, I was probably still in shorts.

As you can tell, again HaL couldn't make it, but it's the kind of result that warms you up on an autumn afternoon and gives hope. We'll still probably be in the bottom half of the table come the end of the season, but picking up points at home against the likes of Brentford will be vital. Interesting to note that none of the promoted teams are doing overly well either, which goes to show it's a very strong league this year.

Stewart's red card yesterday also makes things interesting, as he's started pretty much every game for us this season (amazing when you consider he's 36). I wondered if Tis might have been tempted to shake things up next week for the Cup tie at Nuneaton, and this kind of forces his hand. Still a rest won't hurt us, and as long as we keep our concentration we should be fine.

Don't bloody mention Curzon Ashton at this point.

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And further down the road...

There are reasons, aye. Ways and means as to why it's been three matches and not a peep. The results probably hint why.

There was, shall we say, a minor sulk after losing 4-0 away to Huddersfield, which turned into a non-post because HaL was preparing for the annual holiday. Then, the day before said holiday, we go and lose 3-0 away at Walsall, and the case wasn't packed and Mrs HaL was fretting about shoe colour and before you knew it, we were in Dubrovnik and narry a free piece of internet in sight.

Then I get back today, and what do I find? We drew one-all with sodding Wycombe. At home.

Breathe.

Ok, to get sensible for a moment. There's little point in discussing three games that we haven't seen, other than feedback seems to indicate we were awful at Huddersfield, much better at Walsall and a bit average against Wycombe.

More worryingly, there's a lot of fans on Exeweb talking about players not appearing to be putting the effort in. I can forgive us playing utter shite if they try, but not bothering is criminal football offence, or rather it would be if football had criminal offences.

There are encouraging signs, though. Getting a last minute equaliser in injury time can do wonders for morale, for sure. And we're still where I expected us to be. There are, and will still be, worse teams in the division. And nobody said it was going to be another promotion chase. Except those who thought a 3-1 win over Hartlepool signified the playoffs. Tish and fips.

What we've got to do is win the home games, starting with Brentford next weekend. That will make me breathe easier. But we're by no mean in a dire situation, and it's nothing a couple of wins on the bounce won't help.

There's also been the small matter of an FA Cup first round draw. Some will be delighted that City have drawn lowly Nuneaton Town. Not Happy As Larry. Curzon Ashton is still fresh in the memory. We shall say no more, lest it result in another round of metaphorical cat kicking.

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Naaaaaaarch want Seaborne. They could just build a boat

The Norfolk Coast. Another way of getting seaborne

It's a bit like one of those leftfield transfers that occasionally gets thrown your way on Football Manager - squad member who's ticking along nicely attracts a significant bid from another club.

And just life imitates computer games as Norwich bid for our defender Danny Seaborne.

The club have rejected the first offer as derisory. Good. I'd hate if it they acted like me on Football Manager and click 'Accept' on the first offer out of sheer surprise.

Should we sell him though? On a practical front, that would leave us desperately short at the back with only Matt Taylor, Rob Edwards and Troy, who goes back to Spurs in January, as our centre-halves, while Goldborne's yet to make an impression at left-back and Tis prefers to keep Duffy on the right.

And then there's the player himself. In the Conference, Danny came through the youth ranks and established himself as one of our bright young prospects. He even captained the promotion-winning side at Wembley.

Since then, he got linked with a big move away, his head got turned, his form dropped and he lost his place in the side.

Many thought he'd move on in the summer but he's knuckled down and worked hard to fight for his place, and has recently been playing in the rather unlikely position of left-back.

Anybody who saw how he got taunted by Lloyd Sam at Charlton will know he's still got a lot to learn in that position, but it adds another bit of versatility to his game and by all accounts he's looking more settled as a full-back, even if it's not his natural position.

And, weirdly, for a player who probably isn't a first-choice at the moment, he's probably got more potential than the rest of the back four.

He's still only 22 and, if he applied himself, has the potential to become a very solid defender. And while Matty Taylor is bloody brilliant, Danny has the attributes to play at a higher level, again dependent on application.

But we saw what happened last time his head got turned by transfer talk. And would Norwich really be the best move for him?

Then there's more practicalities. His contract is up in the summer and, while he'd get a fair whack of compensation, he could still leave us for much less than we value him at.

But for all that, it'd be good to keep him at the Park. So, essentially, Norwich can do one unless they offer us a stupid six figure sum we can't refuse. And if they'd give to give us Matty Gill back, that'd be appreciated.

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