Cod Almighty | Diary

The battle of the Shauns; we’ve got Pearson, they can keep their sheep

14 September 2021

Trentside Diary writes: Busy, busy, busy. It's all happening at the moment isn't it? I've got the joys of dog training followed by a little jaunt to a storm lashed Blundell Park. I'm pleased to say that Paul Hurst seems to be having considerably more success than me with a very boisterous labrador. Keep us shape? I'd be happy with not bouncing all over the place but we persevere. Just keep it up Paul, just keep it up.

I have to say I go to the game with more than a little trepidation. We've made such an amazing start and we wouldn't be Town fans if we didn’t expect it all to go to pot every game, not least when we're up against one of the teams most favoured for promotion. Most favoured it would seem because like us they have new owners but with tinsel-town dosh. I won't rehash it here but it appears that two famous actors are now co-owners. I write "appears" because I'm no film buff and had no idea who they were. I had to look them up. I couldn't have picked them out in a line-up but obviously they bring money and attention.

Personally, I wouldn't swap them for Pettit and Stockwood. Picking our owners out in a line-up, that would be a different matter entirely. To be fair I don't ever imagine them in a line-up; that was the previous incumbent's dodgy mates. Move on, move on, don’t look back. If you are interested in our opposition, you could do worse than have a look at Tony Butcher's rough guide to Wrexham. Do we feel sorry for them? Certainly not. They might get short-term rewards but we've got Shaun Pearson back. Enough said.

I don't need to tell you that this will be our fifth game of the season and we’ve already taken points from Stockport, Torquay and Barnet all of whom were fancied for play off places at the start of the season. Before the games I'd have taken a point against Barnet or Torquay and would do the same again tonight. We just know there will be a match we desperately want to win where we trip up. Let’s just keep plugging away.

It's been buzzing in Blundell Park for the first couple of home games and tonight is a home sell-out, that's truly outstanding. It's going to be rocking. Don't you just love a night match? One of my favourites in recent years was that away game at the vegan temple. Craig Disley, still a legend. Let's hope this evening is just as memorable. I’m going for a lie down now. UTM!