What a spirit we have at our club.
A second draw with Leicester City in a month. A second point that seemed huge. Regardless of how the season ends, it has already been filled with many proud moments.
I only watched the second half of Monday night’s match, but we deserved the draw.
In reality, a minute before Jeremy Sarmiento’s goal, I informed my daughter that we would score.
It was not a hopeful intuition, as it may have been for so many years. It was not me giving our children false hope, as we often do. You could tell it was going to happen because of our continual desire to keep going till the end.
That is five games versus the three Premier League teams relegated last season.
Three teams that most of the media wants to compete for the two automatic promotion spots in order to fit their narratives.
But we will not go away. Yes, you must applaud Southampton and their current performance. Despite setting a new club record, they continue to trail us in the league table.
It may just be by a single point now. But, regardless of how they or others look at it, we have put ourselves in a situation that we have no right to be in, both financially and in terms of status. It is still an amazing time.
Hands up who was concerned about the previous two games without Sam Morsy? Yes, mine are up.
Prior to the Sunderland game, I had a strong feeling he would be a big miss. But we would have taken four points. This speaks volumes about our spirit and togetherness.
Whether it was Jack Taylor, Massimo Luongo, or the astute addition of Lewis Travis in the midfield, they made short work of Morsy’s absence.
I have heard and read that now that the last two games are over, the following fixtures will be more manageable. Let us not fall into that trap.
The upcoming games against Preston and West Brom will be challenging, and the following ones will be against teams who will be on edge.
Fortunately, Kieran McKenna and his colleagues will ignore any of that foolishness. Their mantra will be “one game at a time” throughout.
We have now lost Freddie Ladapo for the remainder of the season. I am not surprised that we permitted him to depart the club.
I am astonished that it was only on loan, and that no urgent replacement has been brought in.
I believe the latter demonstrates how difficult it is to do the appropriate business in January. But we have another week or so to correct that situation, and I am optimistic that we will do so.
Ladapo has had his critics, but we must not forget his contribution in promoting us last season.
If my memory serves me correctly, 17 goals in 23 starting appearances was a phenomenal return. He certainly played his part.
And in doing so, he etched himself into our memories of a fantastic promotion season. Go well at Charlton, Freddie.
We move onto the FA Cup on Saturday and the visit of Maidstone United. Has anyone else spotted the spooky coincidence of this tie being live on the BBC?
If not, let me enlighten you. Only once previously have we been involved in a live fourth-round tie.
That was also played at Portman Road, it was also live on BBC One. But most coincidentally, was that it was also played on January 27.
I will take you back to 2002 and an evening game against Manchester City. Not our finest moment in the George Burley era.
A consolation goal from Marcus Bent is all we had to show in a 4-1 defeat.
Kieran McKenna has reversed many a trend in his time in charge. All being well, this will be another reversal to enjoy!
