We flipped a coin for which end we'd sit in and Tel won. So there I sat, a SBRL regular, a fish out of water, amongst the Sir Alf upper denizens, legs aching following interminable stairs, wondering why their bars and that seemed nicer than in Sir Bobby.
Train from Manningtree at 9.45am. Breakfast in the Wetherspoons, sausage, egg, bacon, beans, blood clots (they weren't tomatoes) and toast. The toast was already buttered, but by someone who either considered butter to be a luxury item or worried about our arteries. I've eaten moister cream crackers. Still, a bit of HP sauce and the juice from the beans and they were OK.
We'd metaphorically tipped our hats to a few Fortuna fans on the walk in. They were also in the pub, enjoying the unusual experience of a so-so English breakfast with a pint. One said to me "We don't get zis in Jormany" and I nearly congratulated him. Judging by the queue for the bogs, which are still the metaphorical 'trip to Narnia through the wardrobe and up more stairs than Machu Picchu', they wee more than us. Which made me worried that my kidneys were packing in.
Around 1.30ish they all left, and then congregated about twenty minutes later on a long, loud walk in the road down Crown Street, cheering on their braves. Tel thought it was Borussia Dortmund. Nope. Wrong city. We stood and swayed outside as we watched them pass. They looked happy.
The game, well, probably best left unsaid if you're still dreaming of an opening day win against Liverpool. I will say Muric played well, and Greaves was an upgrade on Woolfy, who came on second-half but had difficulty finding a team-mate with his passing. Our best player first half was Morsy; combative, controlled, broke up their midfield play. Fortuna were excellent, especially second-half when they attacked our end. Their goals were well-taken if daft from a defensive point of view.
Chappers has played better, as has Luongo. Leif got into great positions but his crossing let him down. Young Johnson at right back looked uncomfortable early and was caught out of position for their opener but he got better as the game went on. I liked some of the movement by Delap but he was unlucky with the service he got. We missed Broady and Hutch and Wes went off with a nasty looking injury. We never deserved to level after they went 2-1 up. Freddie Ladapo looked miles off the pace. Still, a good workout overall. Plenty still to do.
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