Blog: Walsall make short work of a long trip
Carlisle away on a Tuesday night for Walsall in February – and, I’m sorry, I can’t pretend I was there, writes blogger Mark Jones.
Although given yet another stunning away result, I kind of wish I had negotiated the near 350-mile round trip and the 2am return.
This is in stark contrast to early December when even a 20-minute jaunt to the Ricoh felt both excessive and slightly foolish.
Not being at an away match in 2013 is not what it was when I was a kid though. I can remember the days when if you were on holiday in somewhere like deepest Wales you might not find out a midweek result for days.
Whilst you can never beat being at a game, on Tuesday night I think I managed to find the next best thing with a multi-sensory grand slam.
I was listening to full commentary on local radio - a bit of a rarity in itself - while watching the Soccer Special on TV with the sound down, looking at the Twitter feed on my phone and regularly checking the Express & Star feed.
And, at the same time, my sons were on Facebook and getting texts off their mates who had gone to the game!
If any player has epitomised how far this current side has come it is Will Grigg, who is now looking the real deal.
He thoroughly deserved to finally get to take home a match ball and anyone who had a few quid on Griggy to reach 20 for the season will be sitting pretty right now.
It was far from a one man show though, if anything it’s the collective nature of the unit that is allowing the players to thrive right now.
We are able to defend as a unit, Sam Mantom and Adam Chambers are capable of getting a stranglehold in central midfield nearly every time they step onto the pitch.
This, in turn, lays the foundations for Grigg, Jamie Paterson, Febian Brandy and Co to create havoc up front.
Indeed, Brandy was so impressive that not only was he applauded off by our loyal fans but by the home crowd as well.
So a first career hat-trick for Grigg, a second successive clean sheet away from home, the fifth three or more goal salvo in 12 games, a positive goal difference for the first time since the win at Bournemouth back in September - which lasted for a whole three days - and you’d have to be pretty unlucky to go down on 52 points.
I could go on and, hopefully, we will be going on and on over the last 11 games. Even a pessimist like me is now beginning to start thinking the unthinkable about where this season could take us.
And, if nothing else, we must carry it on for at least one more game.