Cheltenham 0 City 4
An excellent 4-0 win by the Foxes, which was every bit as conclusive as the scoreline suggests, saw us end August in top spot in League One, and give notice to the rest of the division that our challenge for the title has already begun in earnest.
Yet a lot of City fans, this writer included, had travelled to Cheltenham's compact Whaddon Road ground with a certain degree of trepidation. The home side had surprised a number of top sides last season, and must have fancied their chances of adding City to their list of scalps.
Nigel Pearson made two changes from the side that suffered the agony of last-gasp defeat at Fulham, with Hobbs and Oakley being recalled in place of Powell and Wesolowski. Thus the match began with our most experienced defender at left-back, and our best finisher in right midfield, bringing the tactical follies of past managers uncomfortably close to mind.
However fears of a post-Fulham hangover were dispelled in the first three minutes, when City took the lead. Matty Fryatt raced on to a flick from strike partner Steve Howard, only to see his shot beaten away by home keeper Shane Higgs, But the rebound fell to winger Lloyd Dyer, who despatched the ball into the roof of the Robins' net.
Cheltenham responded immediately, and confusion at a corner almost led to an equaliser, but defender Kerrea Gilbert was well placed to clear off the line. That would be as close as the home side would get to finding the City net all afternoon.
As the visitors began to assert control, Higgs was forced into fine saves from Fryatt and skipper Matt Oakley. There then followed one of the worst misses of the season, when Fryatt rounded Higgs, but with time for a further touch, somehow screwed the ball wide of the empty net….
City continued to press forward and Andy King was unlucky not to score his second goal of the week when his fierce drive was touched onto the bar by Higgs. The home side, though, fought back strongly as the half wore on, and brought City keeper David Martin into action on a number of occasions. However, City had the final chance of the half when defender Michael Morrison headed a corner from King narrowly wide.
The interval arrived with some concern among the City contingent that the lead was only one goal, and fears that the strikers' profligacy may be punished later in the game. But as at Fulham, the visitors started the second half strongly, wasting no time in reasserting their authority.
Another long-range effort by King saw a direct hit on the Cheltenham scoreboard when it may easily have found the net. Minutes later, though, the second goal finally arrived, when a poor touch from Fryatt saw him forced wide, only to lay the ball to an unmarked Oakley, who had time to take aim before beating Higgs from 20 yards.
This proved to be an irreversible blow to the spirit of the home side and for virtually the rest of the game City took total command. The introduction of Max Gradel for the tiring Paul Dickov gave the side even more attacking firepower, and created further problems for the overworked home defence.
A third goal now appeared inevitable, and Howard looked to have scored it when heading home a Gradel cross. But referee Karl Evans, who had a very uncertain afternoon, ruled the goal out, apparently for a push on a home defender.
Soon afterwards City looked to have won a penalty when Howard was brought down, but the foul was judged to be a matter of inches outside the 18-yard box. However, the Robins' relief proved short-lived, as Fryatt blasted the freekick past Higgs and into the net.
With the points long since assured, the only question on City minds was now the margin of victory. Dyer rounded the game off in fine style by collecting a King through ball and bursting clear of the despondent home defence to notch his second goal of the game.
The mood among the visiting hordes, whose numbers approached 2000, was understandably euphoric – a far cry indeed from the dark days of last winter when away turnouts of barely 300 saw some of the worst City displays in living memory. But this City side is not only a joy to watch, but also to play for, judging by the relish and enthusiasm shown throughout the team right up until the conclusion of the afternoon's proceedings.
The news of Oldham's failure to win at Colchester, therefore putting City top of the table by a margin of one goal, gave an added gloss to the day, as did defeats for Derby (just for a change..), Forest and Coventry.
Given the changes in personnel (only FIVE of the fourteen players on display on Saturday were at the club last season), it is remarkable how quickly the side have settled, and how suddenly the fortunes of some of last season's most disappointing players have been transformed. Pearson and his coaching team deserve great credit for the work they have done so far, although they know that the path to promotion is still barely travelled.
The potential for a successful, perhaps even title-winning, season is undoubtedly present within the current City squad. Let's hope it can be realised.
Team and marks:
Martin – 7, Gilbert – 7, Morrison – 8, Hobbs – 8, Tunchev – 7, Dickov – 7, Oakley – 9*, King – 8, Dyer – 8, Fryatt – 7, Howard – 7. Subs: Gradel – 7, Campbell – N/A, Powell – N/A
Booked: Dickov, Dyer