Walking down Burnden Way for the first home match of my 60th season following the Wanderers, there was a definite bounce in my step as we prepared to face the Chairboys from Wycombe - a team we had never scored against, never mind picked a point up against.

The Doombar deliberations were full of high expectations for this season. More than 13,000 season ticket holders shows the fans are up and ready for it. It was great to see the new Fanzone on the north west corner of the stadium opened, following years of hard work by the Supporters’ Trust and our new owners. Unfortunately, I could not take advantage of the wonderful gesture from the club of a free drink for all the fans who watched the Wanderers hard-earned point at Ipswich Town last week as I was on holiday in Germany. My heart was at Portman Road but evidently this did not qualify.

There was a definite buzz of excitement as fans were singing in the pubs, the Fanzone and in the stadium bar areas before the match.

Confidence grew as Ian Evatt named his team for what would be a stern test against last season’s play-off finalists.

The first half was simply one of the best opening halves I have seen the Wanderers play, full of one-touch, flowing and attacking football with two superbly crafted goals from our midfielders, Kyle Dempsey and Aaron Morley. It could easily have been doubled, despite the occasional threat from Wycombe.

At half time, the fans were stunned by our performance. Inevitably, Wycombe pushed us at the start of the second half, but we coped admirably in defence and then Dempsey rattled in the third goal to put the result beyond doubt.

This was a brilliant all-round team performance with everyone putting a shift in, but special mentions have to go to Conor Bradley, Dempsey and Morley.

It is very early days, but the signs are good. High expectations will bring their own pressure and Evatt will have to manage these and keep all the large squad happy, challenges which I think he will relish, and we will enjoy watching.