Pressure tells

After a relentless run of 47 points from their last possible 54 (15 wins, 2 draws and 1 defeat), Norwich City moved within three points of Leeds United who lost only their second league game of the season yesterday. If that is not an impressive enough set of statistics, Charlton Athletic are only three points behind Norwich with a match in hand and face the prospect of also moving within three points of Leeds when we play our match in hand at the Valley on Tuesday. That neatly summarises our overall performance this season and maybe we should take a minute to celebrate that.

Leeds have been the runaway successes of League One this season and having reached the northern section final of the JPT and the fourth round of the F A Cup after their historic win at Old Trafford, their fans could be forgiven for thinking that the divisional title was a formality. Trouble is, they have been lack lustre in recent league games and late winners aside, have been fortunate to keep picking up maximums. To use a boxing analogy, they were counter-punched at home to Wycombe last week and were fortunate to stay on their feet for the draw. Yesterday they were floored at Exeter City where they were sent staggering around the ring by two superb Grecian goals before hitting the canvass.

Whilst Norwich and our good selves face a relatively easy few weeks, a glance at the Leeds fixture list presents significantly more obstacles. Only four of their next seven games are league matches and only one of those is at home against a Colchester side looking to bounce back from yesterday's mauling. They have to go to Swindon, Hartlepool and Orient having already faced Carlisle and Spurs away from home in cup competition. If you add to that the prospect of losing Sulky Sue, then there are reasons to be cheerful a-plenty.

Parky needs to get maximum concentration from our boys in the meantime, but we could well see mighty Leeds crack once again under the strain and in the words of Kevin Keegan, "I would bloody love it."

Yesterday's day out appeared to have the Addick faithful in top form and talk was of how much fun this season has been in comparison to the recent lean years. Away games have been worth travelling to once more and there is a growing sense of camaraderie on the road. Again yesterday I saw a sea of recognisable faces and we got another opportunity to celebrate an away winner rammed home in front of us by the player with whom we identify most. The celebrations behind the goal were heartfelt and suggest this may just be the season to finally turn our fortunes longer term.