If we can go on a run we’ll be in the promotion shake-up

8:35am Thursday 27th December 2007

I THOUGHT we responded well to the Carlisle defeat against Yeovil on Saturday, and it was just frustrating that we couldn't make that break through. Once again we looked very solid, although they sat back a lot and as the home team we were frustrated that we couldn't break them down.

I think had Adam Boyd's effort that hit the post in first half gone in then we may have gone on and been able to pick them off, because they would have had to come out at us.

They have, however been on a good run lately so we always knew it was going to be hard against them, but it was pleasing to restrict them to very few half chances.

The other positive we can take from the result is that we have taken four points off a team this season that will probably have visions of being up there challenging for a promotion spot. I'm sure if you offered that scenario to everyone at the start of the season we would have taken it, although having won down there we did want to the double over them this year.

Hopefully now we can take some points off Hartlepool on Saturday. They beat us quiet convincingly earlier in the season and I would say they are the best side to play us at our place this season.

I certainly find it strange that they have struggled with their form since then, although we know we will be in for a tough game at their place. Like any match we will be going into it looking to win, and hopefully that will come on the back of a Boxing Day victory at Bournemouth yesterday (Wednesday).

We really need to pick up points in these games and also look to beat Gillingham at home on New Year's day, because we have slipped down the table a bit in recent weeks.

But if we can go on a run like that I'm sure we will not only have a chance of staying in the play-off places, but also have a real shout of breaking back into the top two. Off the pitch it has been a strange time, because with so many games we aren't in for training as much.

Like me I'm sure a lot of the lads have been cramming in their last minute Christmas shopping during this time.

I'm not sure, though, what Wayne Gray was up to when I bumped into him on Sunday at Bluewater, as he didn't have any bags on him.

Knowing Grayzer he probably had all his Christmas shopping done in October because he is so organised, and was probably just there weighing up what he was going to pick up in the January sales.