The Cherries on top: Episode 37
After only 3 games, the league have decided to award me manager of the month. No time to get carried away and quite possibly the only month I am going to win it. Skalidis also picks up player of the month and I’d hope that he will get a few more. He does give me a nod of thanks, hopefully he can produce regularly at the highest level.
With the new additions to the squad and the lack of playing time. Boyle-Renner shows up to training late and lacking match fitness. I understand his frustration but he’s given an official warning. Victor tells me that he intends to improve his attitude for the future and given his contract is up at the end of the season he needs to.
Our first game of the month is away to Sunderland. They have had an OK start, with a win, loss and draw in the first three. Our old friend Eddie Johnson is on the bench and Tommy Smith, who we went for free in the summer starts up front.
The home side are on top and the Black Cats defenders are able to contain the forwards fairly easily. Bent and Smith are the main threat for the home side and on another we could have been 2–0 down. Towards the end of the half we get a dodgy penalty which Skalidis clinically puts past Sorensen.
The goals gives us a little more impetus second half, but not much. Coupled with a lacklustre performance from the home side, the second half felt pretty comfortable as we keep a clean sheet.
We have a nice week’s gap so everyone has recovered nicely as we face Middlesbrough at home. We played them in our first season and took them to a replay in the League Cup. They haven’t enjoyed the best start, losing their first 3 games, but did beat West Ham last weekend.
It’s a great start for us as Kerr scores from distance inside 10 minutes. We aren’t troubled as we try and push forward, Skalidis is our main goal threat. As the second half starts ‘Boro push forward, having joined from Everton in the summer, Matty Holland scores the equaliser and his first ‘Boro goal.
As we are the home side I make a few substitutions and they make a positive impact, Ishizaki proves Skalidis with an easy finish to put us back in front. Skalidis then scores his 5th goal of season 5 minutes from time to put the game to bed and collect back to back wins.
Our next game is our League Cup 2nd round game against Leicester. I am hoping that we can get a little further than we did last season (losing in the 3rd round), but the priority is the league so it’s time to use the squad.
Hugo Pinheiro is given his debut, Lythe is in at right back against his former club. Andrelios, Victory and Pestrin also come in for their first starts of the season in attempt to better the result last season at The Walkers Stadium (2–2).
Leicester are poor, they managed two shots in the first half, but neither are on target. Ishizaki is the most creative, he's on it. Quite how we aren’t clear at the end of the half is a mystery.
He does score early in the second half as we finally get past Ian Walker. We continue to push for a second and just as we look to be progressing, Muzzy Izzet runs through unmarked and takes the game to extra-time.
Skalidis is brought on in extra time, but it’s Ishizaki who scores towards the end of the first period of extra time to send us through.
Following the 120 minutes in midweek, we have another away trip, this time to Aston Villa. They had an away trip to Turkey in Europe so hopefully they will be a little leggy.
One time target Clint Hill came in for £3 million in the summer and lines up at centre half. We have to make a few changes due to the turnaround and Andrielos keeps his place at the back, Toni and Skalidis are upfront.
We get off to a fortunate start as Lee Hendrie goes in two footed on Moukoko and its shown a straight red. With the extra man we go on the attack but we can’t capitalise.
The start of the second half is a sh*t show. Firstly Balaban opens the scoring after he picked up a loose ball. Then Tonetto puts in a rash tackle, giving away a penalty and getting sent off in the process.
We have to go attacking, Skalidis tries to to get us back in the game but his finishing is wayward. Toni pulls one back for us but it’s not enough to prevent us from losing our first game of the season.
As the Monday rolls around, the FA are in touch. Tonetto has his ban reduced to 2 matches which is better than the usual response you get.
Even with the defeat to Villa, we still top the table, somehow. Palace have also had an equally decent start. Spurs and United are the only teams undefeated in the league and have a game in hand.
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