THE battering we took at Burnley on the opening day of the season might just be the making of our promotion push.
It seems a funny thing to say because I was as critical as anyone of the poor performance at Turf Moor, but after we got the job done in the end against Derby, I can see things going on an upward curve from here on in.
The result in midweek should fix a lot of things that went wrong on the first day, where, let’s face it, Burnley bossed us for most of the game.
I’d like to think no other team will do that to us this season, and there was something in the performance of a few players on Tuesday night that makes me think the message has sunk in.
Mark Davies was a case in point. After all the stick he got for going missing against Burnley, he came back with a good answer. He looked like a different player – one with a point to prove – and I hope that sets the bar for him now.
I’m also glad to see that the manager has been given a bit of credit for keeping the big man Kevin Davies on the pitch in the second half.
It would have been easy for Owen to drag the skipper off and put fresh legs on, and some might have wondered if he could handle two games in three days, but there was something that clicked when he stayed on the pitch and we were on top for the rest of the match.
I hope that defeat on Saturday bruised a few egos and made people understand that this isn’t going to be an easy ride. But I think fans have got to know too that there will be times when the football out there isn’t that pretty, and that it’ll be the result that counts.
Things didn’t run smoothly against Derby but I’ll take that if it means we get three points.
You don’t get anything for artistic merit.
The more results you chisel out, the more confidence will grow. That’s when you’ll see the flowing football that will get people out of their seats.
For now, I’d take another scrappy win against Forest tomorrow night that will make sure the table makes better viewing over the weekend.

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I CAN’T remember the last time Kevin Davies lost a header – but it’s about time we started to make them count.
Too often I see the skipper beat the defender to the ball, only for everyone else to be on their heels, a yard too late.
We need to start reading those flicks, gambling a bit, and then you’ll see things come together.
I think Benik Afobe has done that, and it seemed as if he had been playing alongside Kev for ages when he got on against Derby the other night.
Marvin Sordell hasn’t played so much in the last year – but his record shows he’ll score goals at this level, so give him time and he’ll come good, I’m sure.
You can argue all day long about whether we should play directly up to Big Kev, but it’s a great option to have.
The thing is – if it isn’t working, you need a plan B or a plan C. You have got to be able to adapt.
When the wins start flowing, so will the football. But you have to be able to roll your sleeves up and grind out a result in the Championship, and that’s where the experience of Kev will be vital.

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HE’S no fancy Dan, but I think we’ve signed a gem in Keith Andrews.
I thought he was excellent against Derby, just doing the unfashionable work off the ball that goes un-noticed by a lot of people.
Every team needs one – the kind of player that might not sell loads of shirts in the shop but who is respected by every single one of the players in the dressing room because they appreciate the job he does.
It might have been no frills, but I’ve been impressed by what I have seen from him in the first two games.
He was probably the only outfield player who could come off with his head held high at Turf Moor and he kept on going even after busting up his nose on Tuesday night.
You know what you are going to get from Keith – and I think he’ll be a big player as the season rolls on.
 

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JAY Spearing looks a little lost at Liverpool – but I think he and Wanderers could be the perfect match.
He came on to the scene as the next big thing at Anfield but has never quite got there, even though he played a few times last season.
He’s still a young lad and until you have really had a consistent run of games, I don’t think you can really judge him.
Spearing would be a great player at this level and it seems to me that he’s exactly the kind that Owen is looking for – someone who’ll sit in front of the back four, play a simple pass, and break up play.
Maybe the Premier League has been a bit too hot for him, but you’d like to think by playing regular football out on loan here, that Liverpool will get a good gauge of whether he’s got what it takes. It obviously benefits us as well.