Decent form through October 2009

October started with a trip to the Liberty Stadium against Swansea. A hard fought battle was won by a piece of magic from Faurlin, and that in spite of Swansea pressing us hard we managed to hold out for the victory. No new injuries, and then an international break. Cook and Alberti and back in full time training, so things are looking brighter, until disaster strikes. Cerny picks up a back strain and will be out for 4 weeks, so Steele will now get his chance. Then things get worse, and Grenier picks up a torn calf muscle in an under 19 international, and he'll be out for up to 5 months, although as backup player it's not a disaster, but he'd been showing well in training and matches he'd played.

The home match with Preston was 2 points thrown away. We eventually took the lead, and then concede the softest of goals from a freekick ever. The wall might not have bothered, because the free kick went well to the right of it, no curl and straight into the right side of the goal. Has to be the most pathetic piece of defending from a free kick. Really unhappy with that, and the referee was throwing yellow cards around like confetti, with seven bookings between the two sides.

The match against Reading proved to be a battle, and after slipping behind 2-1 shortly after the break, I put us to all out attack and took the victory with two excellently crafted goals. One minor set-back is Fitz Hall is now out for 3 weeks with a twisted knee.

The encountered with Derby proved to not be so much a battle but a war. We managed to sneak a victory in an exciting match, which was marred by 8 yellow cards and a red card for Varrault. I can't complain about his dismissal, he'd made plenty of poor challenges, though this is most unusual, as he'd only received one yellow card in all the previous matches. I have to admit on another day this result could have gone the other way, but pleasing to see us come through another hard fight, coming back from being a goal down twice.

In the following week the League Cup fourth round was played with three surprise results. Arsenal losing on penalties at the Emirates to Swansea. Chelsea being demolished 5 - 1 by Fulham at Stamford Bridge and Reading beating Man City at home by 1 - 0. Preston almost caused a shock only losing on penalties after a 1 - 1 draw with Man Utd.

Leicester's visit to Loftus Road produced another battle. The first goal we conceded was horrendous, a cross the keeper came for, flapped at, and only succeeded in palming it straight to a Leicester player who thumped it home. We then got caught on the break to go two goals down. This finally seemed to wake the team up and proceeded to finally play good football, to lead 3 - 2. Hogan Ephraim and Martin Rowlands scored screamers from just outside the box. We then wasted several excellent chances, with a penalty shout turned down, and then paid the price by conceding an equaliser.

October has been mostly positive, and we have moved back up to second in the table, and closed the gap on Newcastle to one point, although they have a game in hand. Peterborough's great form has continued with them fully deserving their third place. Blackpool still continue to struggle at the foot of the table with just 3 points, none of which have been achieved in front of their home fans.