Results, not performances, the key

SITTING in my padded seat in the away end at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, I allowed myself a daydream with the clock reaching 80 minutes.

I was thinking how brilliantly we’d done to claw our way back into the game from nowhere, unfortunately, at the same time as I drifted off, so too did our back four, and the game was lost.

Truth be told, it was a mixture of luck, resilience and brilliance, that meant we went into the last ten minutes against the league leaders with the scores level. But it was admirable stuff and, as has become the trend for us against the top sides, there was enough to suggest the much feared struggle will not be as tight as some dread.

Having worked our way back into the game despite being dead and buried (spotted the trend of our season yet?) we deserved a point for having the cheek to play football at Arsenal.

Annoyingly on a personal level, almost everyone I’ve criticised so far this season excelled as well.

Dwight Yorke wasn’t far short of brilliant against the Gunners. Mobile, tenacious and willing to go forward, he led the middle line admirably and looked the part as captain-come-midfield powerhouse. He used his brain where his legs can’t help out and if he were to continue the rest of the season in Saturday’s form, I’d happily eat humble pie.

Danny Collins, much maligned at left back, is proving his worth as Roy’s little side project. Collins has struggled since his arrival to win over supporters, as well as the manager, but is slowly but surely getting there. He seemed willing to support the attack, as well as being able in defence. His lack of pace showed against Walcott, but the choice between his enthusiasm or Harte’s experience will prove an interesting selection dilemma.

Sunday’s performance raised two questions about the rest of our season. Firstly, is the 4-5-1 formation the way ahead for us to pick up points on the road? It’s proved useful going to the big clubs, but at places when we need to get results we don’t have a striker who can operate as a lone front man. Kenwyne Jones is big, strong and good in the air, but struggles without support. Hopefully Keano won’t persevere with it against West Ham and Fulham.

The second question is whether we raise our game only when playing decent opposition. So far this term we’ve played Arsenal and Manchester United away, and Spurs and Liverpool at the Stadium of Light, yet our two heaviest defeats of the season have been against Luton and Wigan. Whether it’s Keane who has the players fired up against his former enemies I’m not sure, but it’s an odd trend and if we could swap the performances at Old Trafford and the Emirates for ones like we had at the JJB then we’d be far higher up the table.

Thankfully there’s an international break now and hopefully a weekend off will help the lads get into the right frame of mind for the upcoming game at West Ham, followed by fellow strugglers Fulham. Maybe if we pretend West Ham are Real Madrid we might come away with some points. At least the gaffer is in agreement, saying after Arsenal’s late winner: “I’ve said all along that we’re not a bad team but we need to start turning decent performances into results.”

A nice show at Upton Park would be great, but it’s points that make prizes and that’s what we’re after now.