Taking it game by game

WE’RE in winning form and there’s no better test for us this weekend than the visit of the league leaders, Accrington Stanley.

The tests will keep on coming in the next five games, against teams who are currently all above us in the table.

But Luton were top when they came to play us on Good Friday and we played well and got the win, so we will have to adopt the same mentality and performance against Accrington.

There’s no doubting though that they’ve had a great season and I knew from when we played them on the opening day of the campaign that they would be a decent side.

You never really know what you’re going to find on the first day of the season and it was such a long time ago now, with so much having changed.

They have a good manager in John Coleman and for the size of the club and fanbase and the budget they have, they’ve done phenomenally well.

It’s a very difficult place to go – not many points have got points there, this season and they’ve backed that up by picking up lots of points on the road.

But we’re a side that can be one of the best sides in the division, if not the best on our day.

We’re taking it game by game.

We’re aware of people talking about the play-offs again after three straight wins, after it had previously gone a bit quiet after the home defeats we had.

We’ve got a bit closer to them after our recent wins but we’ve got ourselves in this position by focusing on our football and that’s what we’re continue to do.

Defensive solidity has been our foundation

WE’VE gone about our business quietly and effectively, over the last few games.

The Luton Town win on Good Friday was a fantastic result and performance in difficult conditions and circumstances and we followed that up at Forest Green Rovers on Monday with another good win.

It was very pleasing all around and we weathered everything that came at us.

There were some tired bodies out there after the Luton game and changes had to be made to the starting line-up but the players who came in did a sterling job.

It was a punishing Easter weekend but we were excellent at Forest Green and to get an early goal is always nice.

I don’t think any of us expected it to come as early as it did – it was a remarkable start.

We did our stock kick-off with the ball going back to Easty to lump it forward and we were in on goal.

Sammie and Mika did very well and although Drey did his best to miss, he managed to slot it in!

I’ve talked a lot in this column about the importance of getting an early goal and it’s so important, because it helps you to create a bit of space to play your football.

It’s the ideal scenario and you don’t get goals much faster than that.

We perhaps should have been a couple more ahead than we were but even though we conceded the penalty, we managed to go on and win the game and I thought that we were worthy winners.

We’ve had a defensive solidity and it’s something that’s been our foundation, all season.

I actually think we’ve been a bit unfortunate not have kept more clean sheets than we have and I was disappointed after the Luton game that we conceded that late penalty, even though I was delighted that we won the game.

Ronaldo’s goal was amazing

DID you see Ronaldo’s amazing goal for Real Madrid against Juventus in the Champions League quarter-final, the other night?

I think it has to be up there as one of the finest goals ever scored, certainly in the Champions League.

When I saw it, I couldn’t quite believe what I’d seen.

It’s why Ronaldo is regarded as one of the world’s top two best players, along with Lionel Messi and they both have a habit of doing something special like that at key moments in games.

We’re very fortunate to be watching football at a time when both Ronaldo and Messi are playing, because they are both very special players.

I think it said it all that the Juventus fans, as well as the Real Madrid fans, were up applauding it.

Football supporters in general appreciate a fine piece of skill when they see it.

You go to games to support your team and you want them to win but I do think all football fans appreciate good play, when they see it.

I think it happens fairly commonly – it sometimes happens when a goalkeeper makes a decent save.

Some sets of fans are more receptive than others and I must say, I enjoyed playing at Forest Green on Monday – and not just because we won!

Their fans behind the goal in the second half were friendly and there was some good banter going on.

There’s one guy in particular who kept going on at me throughout but it was all friendly and I enjoyed it.

Social schedule is clear

I’M really looking forward to this weekend, not only because of our big game against Accrington Stanley but also because it’s one of the biggest events in the sporting calendar – the Masters.

I’m a massive golf fan and I look forward to this tournament every year.

My wife is well aware of my fondness for the event and I’ve tried to clear my social schedule so that I can watch as much of it as possible!

I’ll be in charge of a Masters sweepstake at the club again this year and I’ve built a bit of a reputation for winning, which has made for one or two accusations of it being fixed!

This year, there are so many golfers who are in form and in with a realistic shout of winning.

The likes of Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson are all in with a shout but I think everyone is willing Tiger Woods to do well.

My heart says Tiger but my head says someone like Justin Rose, which would be great for British sport.

Casillas was always my first pick

SPANISH legend Iker Casillas clocked up his 1,000th professional appearance earlier this week and he’s had a superb career.

He was always a player I would go for on any football computer game when he was at Real Madrid and has been a fantastic player.

He’s up there with Gianluigi Buffon as being a legendary goalkeeper who’s still playing at the top level.

They’ve both played so many games between them over the years and to keep yourself that fit and consistent at a very high level is amazing.

They’ve both been playing their whole careers at a high level and have kept that consistency for 1,000 games or more.

Casillas is 36 years old, so he’s certainly got a few more years left in his career hopefully.

He was linked with a move to Liverpool not so long ago and it would be amazing to see him in the Premier League at some point.