12 steps to heaven, red and white dynamite.

[ted1965]

Liam Lawrence can have the freedom of Stoke after a sensational strike kept us top of the league, not only did we look comfortable and seemed to actually thrive on being league leaders. We have ended Ipswich’s slim hopes of automatic promotion, well at least making it very unlikely they will trouble us. The game may not have had the roller coaster excitement of the last few, though I would be delighted with twelve more like that.

Though that wasn’t the end of the story, after all the delusions of Charlton and West Brazil, they both suffered humiliating losses, which while not ending the Brazilians chances of Automatic promotion is surely makes us hard to catch, 7 points clear of the illustrious south ameriyams and surely Pardew will now whine his way into the play offs but will anyone listen, will anyone care they will simply say you had all the advantages, parachute payments, media adulation and you weren’t good enough. In fact just whisper it quietly with their appalling away record they and Charlton may not even make the play offs, if that happens I doubt there’ll be a dry eye anywhere in the Potteries, as the tears of laughter roll down our cheeks.

Though who cares about the talking horses who have fallen away over the last few weeks, it’s all about Stoke and yes Bristol city, two clubs who have had no parachute payments, little over all recognition and yet here we are just twelve steps from heaven and without getting carried away, we do look totally confident, each challenge is being met and vanquished as the experts look on in amazement. The so called experts can talk about the free flowing also-rans all they like but with Fuller, Whelan, Lawrence we have players of real football quality, people who can make things happen, turn a game. They may not get the plaudits for some at other clubs, though who would swap them, not me for sure they get on with the game and they do what you need your impact players to do, they win you games with that something special.

The atmosphere again was spine tingling, the crowd now believe, you can sense the momentum in the side gathering pace, yes of course there’s bound to be a few blips before May but we are building a buffer zone.

The arrival of a couple of quality loan signings can only add to the players confidence and determination, they may find it hard to make the side, though having some impact players on the bench isn’t going to hurt our chances.

I am still tingling all over, the smile has reached somewhere around the back of my head, it’s been a long time since I have felt like this, you just can’t wait for the next game, there’s almost a sense of anticlimax when the final whistle blows, you just want the next game to be tomorrow. I am glad to say my heart needed a less exciting game but the same outcome three more points and a clean sheet, now twelve 1-0 wins would do me nicely.

We are top of the league and yes I will say it quietly we are going to stay there.

[icelandpotter]

nerve racking last 20 minutes, my heart has some good exercise down the Brit! I can put up with that though for a place in the Premier League!

COME ON YOU RIP ROARING POTTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[eranu]

I didn't think it was as heart stopping as usual, we were in control i felt today. Simmo had one save of note to make. Then again there keeper only had to pick up the ball after Lawrences screamer