Well, bloggers, what an afternoon. Up till this point as far as I was concerned the jury was still out with regard to Mr. Eriksson. He brought with him a fine pedigree in management all over the world - but could he manage at club level in the second tier of English football?
Well, progress has not been instant. It's been something of a slow burn. The performance against Preston last week was good, maybe solid. But what we witnessed today was a further improvement in performance, confidence and courage. Some lovely passing moves, a good deal of mugging the opposition in possession of the ball, all added to the entertainment.
Moreover, players brought in by Sousa who, to be perfectly honest, had been less than overwhelming, are really beginning to come into their own. Miguel Vitor has been solid in defence of late but today added a goal to his portfolio. And Yuki Abe just grows and grows in confidence and is now a real presence in the mid-field.
What I can say is that my spirit is lifted. The season had started so badly that it felt like 2007/08 (relegation season) all over again. But now it truly feels that there is cause for hope and building expectation. Maybe Sven can make a difference after all. Roll on Sheffield United on Wednesday!
