The Man In The Stands Saturday was a day to make the rest worthwhile.Hours of pre-match jitters put to the sword by our best performance of the season in a game that really, truly mattered.

The Man In The Stands

Saturday was a day to make the rest worthwhile.

Hours of pre-match jitters put to the sword by our best performance of the season in a game that really, truly mattered.

On a pitch resembling a paddy field, we inflicted on the Ewes the kind of damage far easier to clear up if it's early in the season and down to a management team on its last legs. But Mad Cowling's repair job will be a much harder to pull off than David McGnarly's in August.

Maybe the Ewes chairman should concentrate on that rather than making statements on how he spends his free time.

As for the idea Colchester won on aggregate, he can have that if it makes him feel better.

Now that game has been dealt with, normal life can resume. We can get on with the job in hand and - ignoring gobby chairmen - both us and the Ewes can go back to a mutual hatred of the other lot.

Sure, the Cuckoo Farm lot will get their compensation for Lambo and, admittedly, it's been worth every penny. But we've got bigger fish to fry - and that starts Saturday with… er… Brentford.

t The Man was beaming with pride in his club at the weekend - not just the heroes on the pitch, or the management team that has saved our season, but in us fans.

Not one arrest, not one opportunity for anyone to point the finger of blame at us - and all despite Mad Cowling's best efforts.

Not bad considering the number of City fans in with the home support must have numbered at least 1,000. Pride of Anglia - always have been.

t It's easy to get caught up in the euphoria of chasing the League One title but The Man felt a shudder of reality soon after the weekend's fun and games.

On a random story, fans of Championship giants Blackpool were discussing which of our prize goalscorers they should sign - even suggesting Littl' Wes should go back to the ground they're still yet to finish building.

The Man doesn't doubt the realities if we fail to go up in May, but the fact Blackpool even consider us such easy pickings is more than enough to focus the mind on catching dirty Leeds.

t Speaking of the wobblers, it seems Jermaine Beckford is in for the long haul - well, until May.

A win - and the psychology of overtaking Leeds on Saturday - is not a chance to be missed, especially with Charlton pressing.

Plus, instead of fighting over who comes second, it suddenly becomes two from three to go straight up - odds that are much more appealing.

t Last week we said a sad farewell to Semmy - our footballing equivalent to Forrest Gump.

Dear Jon could sprint, attack, cover, he scored one supreme goal and always threatened to be a quality player. But more often than not you saw the switch go off and you may as well have had Norman Wisdom at right-back.

A name every other ground announcer couldn't pronounce - Jon Otsemobor, gone but never forgotten.