When we left the save last time out we had gone unbeaten during January and had managed to get through the transfer window relatively intact.
The one big departure was Chay Washbourne, who was sold to Manchester United who immediately loaned him out to our championship rivals Derby County. Which was annoying!
We move into February ready to put our stamp on the final few months of the season. Our star striker, Max Verhelst is still on the side-lines with a long term injury so the team will rely heavily on youngster Ian Davenport.
February 2024
Match 31 -Millwall (H) 7 -0
Yes that's right 7, or 7 (seven) as it would be shown on the infamous vidiprinter. Our biggest league win so far as we absolutely destroy Millwall. Goals from Clarke (3) and Davenport (2) and Loader, as well as an OG.
Just a sensational performance and Millwall will be glad to see the back of us this season after a 5-0 defeat earlier on in the season.
Match 32 - Derby County (A) 1-0
A very satisfying 1-0 victory away at Derby county against a team that included ex Wanderer, Chay Washbourne.
We frustrated the Rams limiting them to two shots on goal. The sucker punch came in the 94th minute as Lefevre popped up with a dramatic winner.
Match 33 - Hull City (H) 4-0
The wins keep on coming, this time at home to Hull City.
Goals from Williams, Clarke, Davenport and Power send Hull back home empty handed.
Match 34 - Southampton (A) 2-1
An away trip to Southampton is always a daunting task, especially in the Championship.
So it was a huge surprise to see us go 2-0 up after 30 minutes thanks to an OG and a Max Power penalty.
A last minute consolation took the gloss off of what was an almost perfect away performance.
Match 35 - Reading (H) 3-0
Old rivalries were renewed in front of the TV cameras in the Saturday evening kick off.
A quick fire double from the two wide players saw us 2-0 up inside 20 minutes. Reading never recovered and we sealed the win in the second half when Leferve scored our 3rd.
Nothing more satisfying than beating your local rivals.
Match 36 - Brentford (A) 2-1
After beating our local rivals to the West, it was the short trip East next up to face Brentford.
After a couple of Substitute apperances Max Verhelst was ready to start his first game in months. It took him 13 minutes to get back into stride as he made it 1-0. It was 2-0 before half time as Verhelst got his second on the game.
A late first half goal made it nervy for the second half but we held on to make it a perfect 6 out of 6 wins during February.
March 2024
Match 36 - Nottingham Forest (H) 1-0
Another league game, another win. for the 7th consecutive time we leave with all 3 points and it was that man again, Verhelst. His first half goal was enough to see off Notts Forest.
FA Cup Fifth Round - Crystal Palace (H) 2-3
In what was billed as "Top of the championship vs Bottom of the Premiership" we went into the game feeling quietly confident.
We had an early goal disallowed before giving away a very soft penalty to go 1-0 down.
A penalty of our own converted by Harvey White and a Alfie Jones Header saw us flip the game on its head. 2-1 at half time.
The game turned in the 68th minute as young midfielder Zidane Iqbal was shown his marching orders for a horror challenge.
Palace took full control of the game and two very late goals dumped us out of the cup. Its a case of "What could have been" after what will go down as an FA Cup classic.
Match 37 - Watford (A) 1-2
It was always going to happen. Maybe the disappointment of the FA Cup exit on Tuesday night may have carried over to this game.
We went behind early in the first half but did manage to drag ourselves back into it in the second half through Leferve. Sadly we couldn't hold on and conceded a second in the 77th minute.
Match 38 - Queens Park Rangers (A) 4-2
Straight back to winning ways as a stunning first half performance blows QPR away.
We went 1nto half time 3-1 up with goals from Loader, Clarke and Power. A very late QPR goal game them some hope before half time but that was quickly quashed in the second half as Verhelst grabbed our 4th goal.
A stoppage time consolation for QPR did not dampen the spirits of the away bench.
Match 39 - Leeds United (H) 0-0
An absolute snooze fest as two counter attacking teams cancel each other out.
It does show the strides we have made to be disappointed to not have beaten a team of Leeds United's Stature.
Match 40 - Barnsley (A) 1-1
Back to back draws put a bit of a dampener to the fantastic form through February and March.
Both goals came in the first 10 minutes as two fairly evenly match teams tried and failed to break each other down for the next 80 minutes. Rhys Williams with our goal.
April 2024
Match 41 - Charlton (H) 3-0
It took us a while to break Charlton down as the stubbornly held firm as we bombarded them through the first half.
We eventually made the break through as Danny Loader found the net in the 77th minute. This opened the flood gates as we scored in the 87th minute through Rhys Williams again and Danny Loader with his second in the 90th minute.
Now the reason I have cut the coverage of April short is for an important reason.
That win against Charlton did something spectacular.
IT SECURED US A PLAYOFF PLACE!!!!
That's right, the perennial underdogs, the unfancied boys from Buckinghamshire who have been relegation favourites for the last 4 seasons have secured themselves a play off spot.
What is even more surprising is we have done this with 4 games left to go and are still within an outside shot of automatic promotion or even the title (I am reaching here a bit I think)
In the next episode we will cover the last 4 games of the regular season and then possibly (Probably) delve into uncharted territory in the Championship Play offs.
Its going to be the most important episode of the Journey so far!
Cheers
Panda
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