We come into Tuesday evening’s match off the back of a very disappointing result at the weekend, but when the games are coming thick and fast, it actually makes the disappointments a bit easier to deal with as you have to dust yourselves down and move on quickly to the next match.
That said though, I don’t think the players in any way disgraced themselves and I am confident, as I have said on numerous occasions, that the wins will come and our confidence will grow.
The Championship has always been an extremely competitive division, but in the last few years everything has moved on and it has become even more competitive because of the vast sums of monies being paid for and to players by the clubs relegated from the Premier League.
This is also alongside the other big spending clubs like Leeds United, Derby County, Wolves and Aston Villa who have invested huge sums of money in their quest for promotion to the top flight.
Without trying to make excuses, or justify our results to date, I think you have to look at the very difficult opening fixtures we have had so far, as we have played two of the teams relegated from the Premier League and two of the sides who have paid considerable amounts for players and are expected to be amongst the promotion favourites this season.
We have also been very unlucky with medium-term injuries to Josh Vela, Sammy Ameobi and David Wheater and whilst other clubs also have injury problems, they are not operating under the same squad restraints that we are.
This season will be a real test of everybody’s credentials across the football club, both playing and non-playing staff, and it is imperative that we all stick together and ride the tough times alongside enjoying the good ones.
We have an incredible team spirit and a dogged determination across the club, both on and off the field, and that will be so important as we look to make our mark this term.
On Tuesday night, we come up against a team that we know very well from last season in Sheffield United. We pitted ourselves against them in the race for promotion throughout 2016/17 and although they came out on top in terms of pipping us to the top position, we still earned our own place back in English football’s second tier alongside them come the campaign’s conclusion.
They have started their own season well and will come to Macron Stadium, having seen that we are yet to win in the league, looking to continue that.
We need to take advantage of the fact that we know them well from last season however, while remembering we also beat them on two occasions in league and cup on our home patch.
Like any game in this division, it will not be an easy match, but with the support of the manager and his backroom staff, alongside yourselves – our superb fanbase – the players will pick themselves up from the disappointment of Saturday and look to give the best possible account of themselves.
As usual, let’s be loud, let’s be proud and let’s get behind the team.
Kind regards,
Ken