Thank God for injury time

Saturday 24th November 2007 marked the end of the international break. And time for me to return from Canada. I'll remember that day for a long while. The plane left Montreal about midnight GMT, and British Airways got me into Heathrow bang on time at 7.00am. The Old Man was there to pick me up so we spent the next hour and a quarter in the car back to Essex. Time for a bite to eat - a confusing meal as I had been up and awake for 24 hours by this time and already had one breakfast. The Old Man came back at 11.30am to pick me up and we set off for Preston. I napped a little, but the motorways were good and we arrived in Preston about 4.00pm. Time for a quick beer or two in the Royal Garrison and back down the hill for my first ever visit to Deepdale.

Deepdale reminded me of when we beat Blackburn in the FA cup, with Darren Pitcher scoring in our famous win many years ago. Three sides of the stadium were in place and offered excellent views, but the stand on our left was missing. We can only speculate that it has been misplaced along with the six discs of data missing from HMRCs Preston offices. But with three quarters of the stadium in place it was quite impressive. Whether Pards and the substitutes thought so might be another matter.

With the adrenalin pumping there was never a problem staying awake for this one. The international break and Preston's new manager didn't stop us looking a classy side for much of the game. In truth I though Preston knocked it about well and caused us some problems in the second half. We need to sort it out when the ball comes into our goalmouth. Weaver never seems to command the area as he should do, and the Preston forwards were big and strong and got their heads to most crosses. But we rode it out and got the win. If we played only 45 minutes each half we'd probably only be mid table. But the Deepdale announcer said the "officials had agreed"a couple of minutes in the first half and four additional minutes in the second half. It sounded as though they had brought in the United Nations to secure that agreement, not just that the ref - previously introduced as "Misseda Friend" - had added the time on.

However he announced it, it was the signal to score a goal in each half and for us to go second in the table for a few hours.

And then the journey home. We had parked in a school playground for thee quid - the cheapest car park this season. Close to the ground, we were able to get away quickly up Sir Tom Finney Way, and follow the signs to teh M6 North. The announcer had told us during the game that the junction going South was closed, bringing a chorus of 'you're not going home' from the sympathetic Preston supporters. So we headed North. This didn't really delay us. I slept for most of the the four hour journey, eventually getting home at 11.15pm.

In a 24 hour period I had travelled for several thousand miles on a plane for seven hours and several hundred miles in a car for nine hours; 16 hours travelling in total with precious little sleep in over 40 hours. But with three precious points it was well worth it.

Up The Addicks!

Robin

Chant of the day: That good old favourite - Simon Jordan is a wanker, is a wanker... from the 'imbeciles'