It wasn’t a late goal I should have worried about, but an early(ish) one. The game dropped off a bit in terms of chances, but Stevenage’s only real threat could have brought a goal. Campbell, who lit up his flank when he got on the ball, served up a chance for Dan Kemp. His effort was well struck and beat Wickens, but not Adam Reach. The left back has been excellent since joining, and he was on hand to perform a great block to keep it at 1-0.

Often, the former Boro man was a great outlet as well. Part of me thought that when we signed him, we’d missed out on other targets. Part of me still believes that, but all of me doesn’t care, because Reach has just settled like a good pint of Guinness. Not that I drink Guinness, but it’s a good analogy.

60 minutes passed and both sides were cancelling each other out. If one changed shape a little, the other did. There was nothing given, nothing gained, and I felt like we needed a change. James Collins warmed up, and I’d said I felt Street was beginning to look a little leggy. 65 minutes came, nothing. 66 minutes, a tough tackle went in, fair, and Matt behind me screamed foul ‘It wasn’t a foul Matt’ I said, and he agreed. ‘I’m just getting carried away, Gary’. Matt doesn’t get carried away, so you could tell the atmosphere was rising. Not much was happening, but it felt like a good contest between good teams.

69 minutes came, and Collins was stripped off, ready to come on. My heart lifted, and he watched on as Darikwa and Hackett combined to set the latter free. Charlie Goode steamed in and took Hackett out (penalty I screamed, I’m not sure it was on second look). Darikwa recycled again and House is tugged down by Piergianni (that one is a pen, not given) but before we could scream ‘penalty’, Street scooped the ball into the net. He saved the referee a big decision, and gave us something to defend.

We didn’t, we went on the attack and should have scored again moments later. We’d had such little joy with the big crossfield ball, but the one time it landed, Hamer nodded down for Draper, only for him to volley high and wide. Again, Draper had a super game, but just couldn’t cap it with a goal (like House and Hackett).

After that, we took our time over the restarts, and the ref was consistent in not hurrying us up. He did find his yellow for House and former Imp Roberts. The former was not happy the latter had dived earlier in the game, and even asked for a yellow which I don’t like. However, Roberts should have been booked and as he wasn’t, he tried it again. House got in his face again and finally the chilled Dad figure of Martin Coy pulled out his card and booked both. No tears, get back to your fight.

If you recall, in the final moments of the fixture at their place last season, Piergianni got into Paudie O’Connor and both were booked, with O’Connor already on a yellow. He tried the same again in the game with Ben House, and for a split second I thought there might be a penalty shout. The two went to ground, Piergianni holding as he always does, but this time, House held too, and they laid on the ground holding each other like a teenage couple. When the former tried to get up, House held on. It was as close to late drama as we got, and the ref had none of it.

I have omitted the moment when they got a throw and want a quick restart. One of our young fans got the ball, held it towards their player and then dropped it two feet to the left of him, running off, laughing. Normally, it might not amuse me, but given their slowing down of the game before that, it made me laugh.

I also laughed after the final whistle. At first, I applauded, but then I laughed because Scott Cuthbert (I think), the Stevenage coach, was into the ref tapping his watch, as if to gesture we’d either wasted time, or there should have been more injury time. Pot, meet kettle. Also, what would another 90 seconds have achieved? They only managed one shot on target in 96 minutes. I do chuckle to myself when a beaten team moan about there not being enough injury time, as if another minute is going to reverse the trend of the previous 90.

I also get incandescent with rage when we don’t get those extra 30 seconds. Football is a funny old game, someone once said.

Anyway, I sit here now having relived the game, wondering how we didn’t win by two or three. We started the day sixth, we ended the day sixth, so nothing has really changed over the last eight hours. That’s not how it feels though. It feels like we’re reaching the outcome Michael Skubala envisaged when he came into the club. We’re Street smart (get it?), and yet we are good with the ball on the deck. We mix long and short well, we press high and win plenty of balls. We won’t be bullied, but we’re not one dimensional, and we’re a deep squad with cover and options running throughout the squad.

We’re a good side. Are we top six good? After 12 matches, yes, but you only get play-offs, or promotion, after 46.

That said, going into the season I didn’t think we were genuine top six candidates. Now?

I almost dare not say it, but we might just be.

Top Eight in League One

Bubs Full Gallery On Page Three