COMING away empty-handed from Chelsea and Liverpool was a sickener but the fact that we could have won both games underlines just how far we have come in the past year and particularly this season.

Never mind the fact that Owen Coyle could not go with a full complement of substitutes and that key players were missing, the team still went to Stamford Bridge and Anfield believing they could get something out of the games, and almost managing it.

The boos from the Chelsea fans at half time told their own story and the relief on the red half of Merseyside when the offside flag stayed down after Joe Cole popped up with that last-gasp winner on Saturday showed just how close we had come to banking even more Premiership points.

That’s the level of expectation at the Reebok these days and, despite the obvious disappointment that comes when you don’t get what you feel you deserve – whether you’ve had bad luck or a bad decision go against you – Owen and the lads can take a lot of positives out of both games.

Things definitely went against us at Anfield – even before the game when, on top of all the other selection problems, Stuart Holden was ruled out. That was a big miss for us because the lad’s been such a massive player for us this season.

Then Liverpool got lucky when Raul Meireles picked up an early injury and Stevie Gerrard, who was only fit enough for a place on the bench, was pressed into service. It was just our luck that, after Kevin Davies put us in front, Stevie G showed once again how valuable he is to Liverpool’s cause by delivering the crosses that brought both goals. Liverpool really are an ordinary side without him.

Cole was obviously in an offside position when he knocked the winner over the line and, although the video replays suggested the ball had come off Johan Elmander, I really can’t see how the referee and his assistant could have seen that.

But let’s not harp on about decisions. The performances at Chelsea and Liverpool were impressive – Owen and his players know that – and they’ll take that into the Wigan game tomorrow night.

It’s going to be a different sort of challenge because Wigan are desperate for points, sitting just above the relegation places and they’ll be coming here determined to make it hard for us, so we’ll have to be just as professional in our approach as we were for the Chelsea and Liverpool games.

I heard Matt Taylor say at the weekend that, even though they are seventh in the Premiership, the lads believe they are better than the league position suggests. And I agree. Looking back on the number of games we have drawn when we should have won or the odd game when we’ve got nothing and should have had a draw, I’d suggest we could easily be in the top four.

But where you are in January counts for nothing and the job now is to make sure we press on, keep up the good habits and maintain the professional approach that has got us to where we are. We’ve got four hard months ahead of us and, although I’m confident we can finish comfortably in the top 10, nobody will be taking anything for granted. That’s for sure.

Obviously if you had said at the start of the season that we’d be where we are now, people would have laughed at you, but we’ve got to where we are with good management, good football, good spirit and a lot of hard work and the task now is to make sure we stay there.

And don’t ever underestimate the power of the fans. They’ve made a big contribution already and they can do it again tomorrow night.

I expect them to raise the Reebok roof and play their part in a winning performance that will keep the pot boiling.

WHOEVER acquires the services of David Beckham is going to get a top professional who still has a lot to offer the game.

The very fact that clubs like Tottenham and Newcastle are keen to take him on loan for a couple of months speaks for itself.

They know what Beckham can bring to their clubs – and not just in terms of profile and merchandising.

He is still a great pro – a credit to himself and to the game and a perfect role model for any aspiring young players – but even at 35 I’m sure he can still be an influence on the field.

From his point of view he has the incentive of trying to force his way back into the England set-up.

Personally, I think that’s a bit ambitious, but you never know.

Beckham’s not in Fabio Capello’s reckoning at the moment but if he does come back to the Premier League and shows he can still play at the highest level, he might still have a future at international level.

THE fact that Owen Coyle could only name four substitutes at Liverpool was obviously a cause for concern but it also illustrated yet again what a fantastic job he has done with one of the smallest squads in the Premier League.

Injuries and suspensions have taken their toll and we’ve also lost the likes of Chung-Yong Lee to the Asian Cup and Tamir Cohen following the tragic death of his father.

But Coyley hasn’t moaned. He’s just got on with the job, picked the players he’s had at his disposal and sent them out well prepared to do a professional job.

I’ve no idea what the transfer window will hold, whether there will be players going out or players coming in, but I do know that we have a manager who will work with the resources he is given and get the best out of what he’s got. He’s proved he can do that already and that is all you can ask.

I’VE got a sneaking feeling that Saturday’s tie at home to York City – the first anniversary of Owen Coyle’s arrival at the Reebok – could be the start of an exciting cup run.

When I look at the great job Coyley has done since coming to the Reebok a year ago, I can’t help thinking he deserves some special reward for his efforts, And why not a successful FA Cup campaign?

There are so many ex-players around the club – me, David Lee, Jimmy Phillips, Nicky Spooner and, of course, Coyley himself – who were involved in those unforgettable cup runs of the 1990s and the prospect of another adventure is one to get the pulses racing.