For the first time in 20 years we've progressed past the second round of the League Cup. Of course in 1982/83 we got to the semi-final, and a similar run this time round would be well worth it financially. We don't want the same end to the league season though, i.e. relegation.
Enough reminiscing and onto last night's details. Well, we won, we weren't convincing, and the game could really have gone either way. If you look at the statistics, and you can do elsewhere, then there really was nothing between the teams, apart from a cool bit of finishing and some tremendous goalkeeping. Bevan in the Terriers goal made 2 or 3 first-class saves, particularly from Taylor in the second half - I was out of my seat thinking it was in. However, he was outstaged by Super Marlon - I counted 4 goals he saved and whilst it's nigh on impossible to describe a good save (you just have to see them) I reckon the double save in the last period of extra time was as good a piece of keeping as I've ever seen. Well, that's my opinion, for what it's worth.
So no Little, and we all know what that means: no guile, no craft, no innovation. Stan played 4-3-3, and despite contrary views, I'm not sure about Davis in midfield. Yes, it worked at times, but without pace he could get caught out. Still, I hope to be proved wrong.
The first half was turgid, and we were second best. Lacking confidence in front of goal, Town showed why they have only scored 7 goals this season. A couple of corners, a Taylor header, and a 25-yarder from Davis were all we managed, and the game had 0-0 written all over it.
Stan changed to 4-4-2 with Ian Moore dropping to right midfield in the second half, but he was as ineffective there as up front. Alan Moore is slowly transforming himself into the new Tony Grant, whilst Grant is becoming an average player.
A diver replaced the player who had diving boots on with 15 minutes to go, and Branch replaced Moore A 5 minutes from the end. A small number of boos rang out for each change - is anyone surprised by that? In between Beresford had made his first telling save of the match when McGregor's weak back-pass fell short. He'd done the same thing in the first half, and we got away with it then as well. Just after Papa was introduced, Davis's header was well saved by the home keeper, and shortly after, Cox, after giving the ball away, recovered well to stop Huddersfield forward Thorrington as he raced down on goal. Unfairly, cried the home fans, and I wouldn't have been surprised to see a red card for Cox, but the view at the other end wasn't the best.
So my premonition of 0-0 was correct, and in the almost full away end we were assured that the game would be decided by the new golden goal rule. Apparently if a goal is scored in the first period play continues until the end of that period, and the score then is final. With this in mind as Tony Grant played a slide rule pass to Papa, who put it in the corner with considerable composure. Fantastic - 1 minute to go. Imagine our disappointment when the teams changed round for the second period. Our reliable informant had misinformed us. From here on in it was the Marlon show, and if we'd lost 2-1 it would have been no surprise, but all the newspaper tells us is that we won 1-0, and who wouldn't have settled for that before the match?
Final word for the fans, who must have contributed at least a third of the crowd. Home support may have dwindled, but the travelling fans are turning up in good numbers.
Subs not used: Armstrong, Payton.
Attendance: 5,887.
Scorer: Papadopoulos (104).
Referee: G Laws (Whitley Bay).
Becko's Man of the Match: Beresford.
Cup shock - Burnley make the third round!