I write a few hours before we take to the field at Goodison, so I hope by the time most people read this piece they will be feeling positive about the visit of West Ham to Ashburton on Saturday.

Tonight’s game is the first a ‘season making’ period of games. After the Hammers it’s the cup replay and then a trip down the road to take on Arry’s Spuds, which is must win whatever the situation. These are games that on paper we should win… sod the paper… We MUST win, if we are going to have a hope of silverware and Champions League footie next year.

Aston Villa are staying the course at the moment, and I get the feeling they aren’t going away in a hurry. So we must keep up the pressure. Maybe we should concentrate more on the bottlers from Anfield and Chelski who are still not convincing.

As for United… and their good friends at the Referees’ Association, they are starting to turn the screw and now look a tall order to catch. After last night’s game at the Hawthorns, Rafa’s rant seems even more valid. Rob Styles has always been a liability, but his performance last night was frankly disgraceful. He may as well been wearing red, such was the bias of his decision-making.

If only we could tap into that stream of goodwill that Ferguson has drunk from for over 20 odd years.