Game 9 - Villa 1 FFC 1

We seem to be beating all our hoodoos this season, winning on Sky, winning away, not losing at Villa Park. A cracking point and another hard working performance. Cookie seems to have got the team spirit going and whilst our squad maybe looks a bit lacking in stars maybe we really have gained a depth we didn't have before. It's hard to not get over excited when you think how well we are doing without so many key players but it's still going to be a long hard season. Points from today - Zat & Pearcy looking solid in central defence, Brown being a nuisance in midfield, Voltz & Boca performing miracles out of position, and Radz finally finding a bit of form. Final word has to be for Mr Mortiz Voltz - a cracking first Premiership goal today - better dig out that pumpkin & prawn soup recipe again it must have done the trick!

Game 8 - FFC 2 Charlton 1

We really need to win games like this just to stay up, and certainly if we have any allusion to a top 10 finish. Yet again I'm reduced to occasional peaks at BBC online text to see how we're doing. Fairly drab 1st half means I don't need to get too concerned - sounds like Charlton were on top but at least we stayed solid. 2nd half swung our way and then a minor miracle happens. Claus enters the fray at around the hour mark and within 5 minutes has created one goal and scored a second. Bang! All over? Not quite - a 78th minute strike from Darren Bent gives us a typically nervous last 10 minutes, but we hold on for a well earned victory. Definitely a big three points tonight - puts us in tenth which is fantastic considering the injuries we've had to deal with and puts Charlton firmly in the mire with a (frankly rubbish) 3 points from 8 games. Something there for us to build on and also a good confidence boost for the team. Villa away next which is bound to be tricky and then my next proper match at home to Wigan. Can't wait.

Game 7 - Watford 3 FFC 3

A chance to build on that great away win at St. James Park and banish any thoughts of being poor away from home. To be honest I'd have been happy with a point before the game. Stuck at home so "watching" the game via BBC text update (the new Teletext!).

Defending throw, defending throw, attacking throw, defending throw.
Goal kick, foul, defending throw attacking throw. What the hell?
Goal Watford (1-0) - Flippin' heck that's gonna make it hard.
Half time - Phew at least we can sort ourselves out now and make a few changes.
Goal Watford (2-0) 15 seconds in! Oh dear, that's it then, all over what a miserable game.
1 hour mark, Routledge, McBride and Radzinski on for Bocanegra, John & Voltz, at least we're gonna have a go.
65 minutes - Start checking TFi for any posts that might give me hope.
71 minutes - Think I'll turn on 5 Live as well and have a listen.
72 minutes - GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLL McBride! (2-1) YES! Come on Fulham!
83 minutes - GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLL Helguson! (2-2) Get in there! We've rescued a point!
87 minutes - GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLL Francis O.G. (2-3) I can't believe it that's all 3!
89 minutes - Goal Watford (3-3). Sod it.

Despite the feeling of having blown 3 points, have to say that's a great result. Last season we wouldn't have come back from 2 down, disappointing we couldn't defend for the last couple of minutes but Watford will take a point of better teams than us at Vicarage Road.