CITY HAVE RECIPE FOR SUCCESS
The mouth-watering win over QPR dished up more than three crucial points. The way that the team displayed confidence, and dominated throughout, has convinced me that we have the final ingredient to taste automatic promotion.
We've had most of the recipe in place for the past couple of years, of course – a core of players Bristol through and through who have grown up together and know each other's game inside out. A pinch of experience in the shape of Tinman and Butler , and a few tasty players like The Doc and Burnell for when we need to grind out results. But we've always lacked that je ne sais quoi and fallen short at the last. This year we stirred in some added flair from the likes of Wilkshire and Goodfellow, though after the amazing start we have not served up the expected flood of goals despite bringing in Miller too. And, of course, Steve Lansdown gave Danny the cash to go out as the transfer deadline loomed and add the icing on the cake by bringing back SuperScott. The danger of signing Darren Caskey as well, of course, was that he might scoff the resulting cake before we could all get a slice.
But after the recent dismal results, the question that still remained was whether, after mixing all this together, the team had the secret ingredient for success. Against Cardiff we came so close that it hurt more than ever. But even though the win over QPR wasn't enough to bring us into the top two despite having played a game more, the win has convinced me that we will overhaul them in the run-in. It wasn't the result, it was the way we handled the pressure when we knew what was at stake. We have a tough run in, and every game will be like that from now on in. But QPR have stuttered recently too, and they still have Swindon and Plymouth to play. The Chairman has dusted off his wallet and thrown everything he can at getting us up this year. As a Second Division manager, Danny can't have expected the financial backing to bring in as many quality players. I certainly didn't. But the problem is that you can't buy the secret ingredient for success.
For the one thing which will determine which of us go up is mental strength and self-belief now that the season is coming to the boil. When the players walk onto the pitch knowing what is at stake, they must be able to thrive in the pressure cooker atmosphere rather than be suffocated by it. The QPR game showed me which team has that certain je ne sais quoi . Players like Thorpe and Cureton are not the sort you'd want in your squad when it's all hands to the pump. Players like Murray, Tinman, Hill and Coles are. Old Hollowhead is an excellent manager, much as we all hate to admit it, but I think he's got the wrong blend this season.
It now looks like it will basically be between City and QPR for one automatic promotion spot. And after roasting them head-to-head, I am salivating at the prospect – because I know that this time round, we'll have them for dinner. And next year we can look forward to Division One teams on the menu.
