Play-Off: Infor Brighton - Swindon
Da det verkar vara nagot fel pa Svenskafans huvuddator och tre infor match rapporter redan forsvunnit, kommer har en "gastkronika"/infor matchrapport av The Goldstoneghost!
The Albion (1) v Swindon (0)
Play-off semi final 2nd leg.
Preview................
Fortress Withdean waits.
Patiently standing there in it's little valley.
Surrounded by trees and nice houses.
A quiet place.
A tranquil place.
Our home.
It's waiting to explode.
We all are.
Time ticks by so slowly.
Thursday creeps towards us without any need to rush.
And all the while we prepare ourselves..............
Sunday afternoon was a truly wonderful experience, but nobody around here is stupid enough to become complacent before the job has been finished.
In fact, I am both proud of, and totally impressed by Mark McGhee for the way he has approached these play-offs and the way he has prepared our team.
Whilst Andy King and his Swindon cronies tried every trick in the book to gain a psychological advantage before last weekend, McGhee kept his dignity and his pride intact, and instead of joining in the war of words, he quietly went about preparing us perfectly to go down there and complete phase one with stunning effectiveness.
But we all know that we are only half way there.
We all know not to peak too early!
Even in defeat, Swindon continue to be the media whores. They spout their sour grape juice, their accusations and their fury to any paper or publisher who will print stuff, and still they are convinced that they will 'do' us.
You would have thought that now was the time to shut up and get on with preparing to face us, but no. Still they try and intimidate us with their words and their attitude.
Sod 'em! That's their look out, and I guess it's their right.
We are far cooler than that.
Whilst Swindon considered us their 'plum draw', and made a big thing about getting the team that they 'wanted' (because they are convinced they will beat us), our only reason for hoping it was them we play was because it is 200 miles less to travel than Hartlepool. Simple as that.
Any football fan with an ounce of sense knows that the play-offs turn the form books on their heads, and preparation for this mini-competition is a whole new ball game in itself. It doesn't make one iota of difference who you are playing. It's how you play.
Arrogance has no place here. Not until our place at Cardiff is assured.
Watching our bitter rivals, Crystal Palarse, on Monday, greasing through by the skin of their teeth was enough to convince me that anything can happen in these games, and nothing can be taken for granted. Nothing at all!
What I am sure of though, is that it is going to be very difficult for any team to come to Withdean and score two goals. Very difficult indeed. Ben Roberts and our defence are playing out of their skins at the moment, and even Thierry Henry would be hard pushed to find a way through.
An early Albion goal would be just what the doctor ordered, but if patience is needed, so be it.
We can do patient.
There is a big part of me that is almost boiling over with excitement, and even a tiny bit of expectation (dare I say?), but for now it's a case of keep the lid on it, and wait................
Wait to celebrate.
Wait to party.
Wait to go crazy.
At 9:45 on Thursday I'll take whatever emotions come my way, but until then I shall be just like Mark McGhee.
Cool, calm, collected and confident.
