So here it is then, the 2007-8 home campaign kicks off at last. Having swapped a visit to Spotland on Tuesday for the a trip to the Nou Camp, I can't talk too much about Tuesday night's game, apart from the various reports I've had off people suggest that we were full value for our win against the Stokies and that if anything, it was our superior fitness that proved to be the difference against what was a full strength Stoke side. And lots of dog noises for some reason.
But those reports didn't surprise me really, because if anything I thought there was a big over reaction to the defeat at Peterboro last weekend. Not that I came away thinking that we should have beaten them, or that we'd been unlucky or anything. I just thought we played a lot better than a lot of people gave us credit for.
Make no mistake, Peterboro are a very good side, and as we mentioned in our pre-season previews, Ferguson has done a very clever job there. He's avoided going for the big name players that 99% of managers would have done having been given the same sort of cash, and he's gone out and signed what he considers the right sort of players. And it showed. And it showed again when they stuffed
And the game seemed to transpire in just the way that suited Posh. There wasn't a great deal between the two teams early on, but a great bit of skill saw them take the lead, and after that, we were always up against it against a side who seemed suited to playing on the break.
But last Saturday is now history and all that, and the focus is on Saturday's game against Chester City. Games between us and the Cestrians have tended to be well matched encounters, particularly at the Deva Stadium with the return game at Spotland perhaps not living up to the same sort edge of your seat atmosphere.
Victory against Stoke in midweek has certainly took a bit of pressure off the well fancied Dale side. Every team always has that bit of an edge until they find their first win of the season, and with the league tables even appearing before the first game of the season these days, teams are considering adopting the AFC Wimbledon technique to ensure a good start to the season. But that win on Tuesday has shown the Rochdale public (or at least those who didn't bugger off on holiday) that the much hyped revolution is still in full swing, and was certainly no flash in the pan.
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