Usually a goalless draw feels a little bit underwhelming, however, for me at least, last Saturday’s result at Blackpool coming on the back of opening our goalscoring account for the season and being very unlucky not to get something out of the game at Wycombe, felt more like a (admittedly small) step in the right direction as we continue to try to adjust to the bigger challenges we are facing in League 1.

While Sam Howes’ much improved performance in goal kept us in the game to an extent, we might also point to several decent chances that we failed to convert, as well as a seemingly clear-cut penalty not being given when Joe Piggott was dragged down in the box just before half-time, to suggest we could have perhaps got even more out of the game. Although we also had to be thankful for some poor finishing from a Blackpool side that hasn’t managed a league goal since their opening day victory over Burton.

Once again it was something of a rejigged line-up as further injuries and Dan Happe’s suspension meant that the gaffer went with three centre backs in Tom James, Omar Beckles and Ed Turns with Theo Archibald and Ethan Galbraith being deployed/ forced to play as wingbacks. It seemed to work to make us more robust at the back, and the football we played was crisp and fluid to an extent, even if it didn’t lead to us scoring any further goals. You just get the feeling that it was a “needs-must” set-up rather than the one that Richie envisioned during his pre-season planning.  In fact in his comments after the match the gaffer did suggest that this wasn’t his preferred style of play.

When Shaq Forde, thankfully seemingly recovered from the injury sustained in the warm-up the previous Tuesday evening, replaced Tom James with 15 minutes (of normal time at least!) to go he added power, pace, and drive to our forward play. If he can get himself properly up-to-speed and available on a regular basis, his early cameo suggests we may have quite a threat at the top end of the pitch on our hands.

Speaking after the game Richie highlighted what he felt was a much-improved defensive performance while also suggesting that “our season starts now with the first point, first clean sheet”. Being totally honest I think we all realised that our start to the season was going to be tough against teams that are for the most part fancied to be in the play-off and promotion mix, and with three of our first four games being away from home. It has been made even harder by the sheer number of players that haven’t been available through injury, concussion protocol, illness, suspension or are not quite ready, but hopefully the last couple of games will bolster our confidence as we look to push on over the coming weeks and months.

Now that we seem to be beginning to find our feet a bit more at the higher level and with hopefully players to return and stay fit, we now need to focus on beginning to establish ourselves as a squad capable of matching teams within the division and starting to get some points on the board. Next up are a couple of home games with us facing Cambridge United this Saturday followed by our old “friends” Stevenage and their always popular manager Steve Evans the following week.

Cambridge only just escaped the drop last season with a win on the final day, surviving by a solitary point, but this season they have won three out of four beating Oxford United, Fleetwood and Bristol Rovers but surprisingly losing to Stevenage, and currently top the table on goal difference. Far from a game that we would normally be expected to win, but you get the feeling that if we were to produce a solid performance and get a result, particularly at home, it would give us another timely boost. Having said that though, it is likely to be an encounter that challenges us to match and contain the opposition while stopping giving away sloppy and largely avoidable goals and ideally creating and converting a few chances ourselves.

Stevenage have surprised a few people with the start they have made to their own campaign at a higher level, as difficult as it is to admit three wins out of four and sitting in fifth spot in the very early league table makes something of a statement.

I think it is safe to say we know full well not only what to expect from Mr Evans and the Boro, but also to remember how we struggled with their approach in both fixtures last season. We have to hope we have learned those lessons and will be ready for everything that they throw at us. A long overdue victory would be more than welcome, although far from straightforward.

With there likely to be further bumper crowds at Brisbane Road for those two matches we have to hope that we can build on our first point of the campaign and start to show what we believe we’re all about. It might also be nice if we got a bit more of the rub of the green from the match officials and lady luck herself. Here’s hoping!

 Up the O’s!