DAN THE FAN: We'll need our best at Stevenage (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

DAN THE FAN: We'll need our best at Stevenage

4:32pm Thursday 25th October 2012 in Sport

EVEN though a football season consists of 46 league games and plenty of time to put right a bad result, there is always a certain period of a campaign that fans and pundits point to as a make-or-break moment.

The season is still very young but the fact our last three games were played against 20th, 22nd and 19th in League One and we only managed to take two points from a possible nine could turn out to be a key moment i.

The most recent setback took place at the Alexandra Stadium on Tuesday night, where despite a spirited second-half performance Town were denied a share of the points.

Once again Paolo Di Canio made wholesale changes to the side that drew with Scunthorpe, the most noticeable of them seeing Matt Ritchie have to settle for a place on the bench.

Ever since his permanent arrival in 2011 Ritchie has been a key player at the club and with good reason.

He has everything needed to be a top winger, and he could easily ply his trade in the Championship.

Last season his partnership with Paul Caddis was one of the main reasons for our success, so naturally ever since the right back moved to the midlands, Ritchie has been suffering.

Nathan Thompson has been the nearest fit into the Caddis mould, but with him being so young in his career, his inexperience is clear to see.

It’s not a coincidence that our poor results has mirrored Richie’s below-par performances. Let’s hope we can see a return to form for the winger this Saturday.

Of course it’s not fair to blame everything on our young midfielder. Ever since Andy Williams' injury we haven’t looked the same team in attack.

James Collins is a top finisher and will become a key asset for Town, but he needs pace alongside him. I hope Paolo sees that and partners him with John Bostock this Saturday, when we trabel to Hertfordshire to take on second-placed Stevenage.

 

Ever since their promotion to the Football League in 2010, Boro have been on an incredible journey through the leagues, and only lost out on a third consecutive promotion in the play-offs in May.

This season they have already started with the same intent as the last and are still looking to go from the Conference to the Championship in three years.

After playing some of the average sides in the division in recent weeks, Town will have no choice but to return to form if they want to take anything from this game.

But with our away form being impressive this season and the fact we normally up our game when playing the better sides in the league, I’m confident we can come away with at least a point on Saturday.

Then next Tuesday we welcome Aston Villa to Swindon in a massive fixture for the club, the County Ground will be full to the brim and it promises to be a fantastic night under the lights for the club.

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