The Torture Continues

At least we don't support this crap.

Just as you start packing your hope and dreams away for a season something happens that makes you reconsider. Fresh off the back of 2 consecutive defeats to the only teams above us in the table, our title ambition seemed to be unrealistic and over. A game at home to Liverpool is hardly an inviting opportunity to restart what you've thrown away, but against all odds the boys have done exactly that. Admittedly I was stuck in a gas station with a dead car battery so was unable to watch but the results speak for themselves. A 75th minute header (!) from Abou Diaby was enough to separate us from the scousers and take us within 6 points of Chelsea, who contrived to lose a lead and the game at Goodison Park. A clean sheet and a save from Almunia kept us in the race at the end when Babel hit the bar and Gerrard had a free kick saved by Cesc in injury time. The latter event proving quite lucky as the referee would have had to send off our captain and possibly award a penalty (although it was outside the box, you never know).

One can not understate the import of this victory. Three consecutive defeats would have given us serious questions to answer about the final position we would land in May. Instead we are allowed a moment of grandiosity in which we get to harbor dreams of silverware. Someone said before the Aston Villa game that he would be happy with 5 points and I tended to agree with him. We were two moments of madness away from that target on Sunday. With the FA Cup being played this Sunday we are allowed a bit of respite, hopefully allowing some of those fitness problems to be dealt with.

The only slight blemish on an otherwise spectacular night was the inability of Aston Villa to break down United, despite having a man advantage for more than an hour. But I'm being a bit picky to be honest. Chelsea should have been beaten by two goals had it not been for a poor penalty by Saha. As an American it is nice to see Donavan making himself to be so useful after so many failed attempts in the Bundesliga. His touch that brought him inside of Caravlho to win the penalty was top class. Chelsea will drop more points, we just have to be sure we take full advantage like today. The icing on the cake had to be Wolves doing the double over the lily-white Seven Sisters Pretenders. Two 1-0 victories by a shit team with a shit manager shines a different light on the 6th placed team.

So now we get 7 days to prepare for Porto. Let's be honest we got quite lucky with the draw. I still think that the Champions League is the best chance this season. I want 6-0. All to be scored off of Arshavin's head. Joking aside, with only the one other competition it is important to win all of our games now, if only for momentum. But for now lets bask in the greatness and fortune of today.

SFGoon