After suffering another away defeat, in midweek, we head off to Middlesbrough this Saturday desperate not to capitulate on the road again.
One of the sadder aspects of life in the Championship has been the lack of away successes, under our two previous incumbents of the managerial role, Darren Ferguson and Mark Cooper, life on the road has been a miserable affair.
So far, Jim Gannon has only had one away trip, to high-flying Cardiff, and not many people would have given us much of a chance there under any circumstances.
But, Middlesbrough`s different. Since sacking Gareth Southgate and bringing in Gordon Strachan, they`ve suffered mixed fortunes and there is a definite suspicion that perhaps we could get something from Teeside.
Ahead of the trip Jim Gannon has spoken about the appalling away record and he`s beginning to suspect it could be a psychological thing when he remarks,
‘We’ve gone such a long period without an away win and maybe it’s a psychological thing. “
‘All I can do is ensure we prepare as best we can.’
A touch on the old preparation syndrome there! But as Jim points out often these things can change with one flash of brilliance, one inspirational moment, or as Jim puts it,
‘If we can get a bit of confidence, maybe a bit of magic from one of our top players we can get ahead in an away game and give ourselves a fighting chance.’
Can anyone remember the last time Posh lead away from home, in the Championship?
But, Jim is realistic to know that as things stand there are certain games we`ve not really looking like getting from and it doesn`t come as too much of a surprise to hear the honest manager talk about targeting teams he can beat and trying different things out on those who appear low down his list, or as Jim puts it far more succinctly,
‘If I was to look at the 18 games I started with and put them in order of potential wins, QPR would probably have been my top game to win and Cardiff quite a way down.”
‘Middlesbrough will also be tough but these games are a good opportunity to practice our new systems and tactics and get ourselves ready for the likes of Ipswich and Sheffield United at home.’
It may look like admitting defeat but wily Jim appears to be concentrating on next season and a push for a return to the Championship!
But we still need to get that away form sorted out do we not?
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