Bryan Gunn's management style became ever more apparent this evening as he mulled over two big points dropped. It could, he said, yet prove to be a very big point gained. The Gunner's glass is likely to remain steadfastly half full.
Certainly, it remains as tight as a gnat's a*se at the foot of the Championship. The fact that the bottom six features the likes of Charlton, Watford, Norwich, Southampton and Derby just goes to show what getting relegated from the Premiership can do for you.
So, in that sense, the new City boss is right – every point could prove to be priceless. But having battered Southampton for the first-half and led 2-0 at the break, that should have been it. Job done.
The fact that the Canaries then conspired to let Saints wriggle off the hook and in Marek Saganowski's 78th minute leveller conceded a sucker punch of the all too familiar kind would have tested the patience of a saint, let alone a long-suffering Canary fan.
Gunn, however, remained resolutely positive.
“A little bit disappointing, but we're going to take the positives from the game,” he said, as the Class of '93 Reunion didn't quite go with as much of a bang as everyone had hoped.
At least newly-arrived first team coach Ian Crook has now met both Beauty and Beast; seen both Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde. Likewise new chief scout John Deehan will now know where he needs to concentrate his efforts – on finding some big, no-nonsense characters who like nothing better than being up to their necks in trenches mud.
People who will get their heads onto Lloyd James' cross; and if they miss the ball, they flatten the man.
“We're unbeaten and we'll go into the game at Doncaster and, hopefully, achieve a result there,” added Gunn, tonight widely linked to a move for Cardiff City's Darren Purse. In fact, word was that the 31-year-old was actually in the building this evening.
Beauty first – the first half was Barnsley all over again with Wes Hoolahan, in particular, having a ball. He also produced an absolute peach of a goal in that swerving 30-yarder.
“I thought they went out there and did exactly what we asked them to do; they got the crowd behind them right from the off,” said the City chief, putting his lighter touch to work.
“The lads seemed to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere that we've managed to create – first half especially.”
Summed up in Hoolahan's second goal in as many games as Sammy Clingan rolled the ball into the Canary winger's path and watched as Hoolahan let rip from some 30-yards distant.
“Quick thinking; quick free-kick; out to Wes. And I don't think I've ever seen him hit a shot from that distance – and if he gets another opportunity I hope he does and takes it. It flew into the top corner and Kelvin Davis had no chance.”
And then came Beast.
“We get ourselves 2-0 up and then we switch off slightly,” said Gunn. “The first goal was a bit unfortunate; deflected shot from the edge of the box.”
The second, he readily admitted, was more disappointing as David Marshall came and stopped and Jonathan Grounds found himself the wrong side of Saganowski.
“The ball got played out wide; we allowed the cross to come into the box and as Ian Crook said in the dressing room, space never scores, but players do.”
And if you're left marking space and not your player, that's what happens.
“The fact that the ball came into the box was disappointing as was the fact that there wasn't a challenge on the player. Again, it's something that we can talk to the players about and we can let them know our thoughts and try and make sure it doesn't happen again.”
Was he happy with four points from the last two home games? He is, after all, stilll unbeaten as a Canary manager – be it either as caretaker or full-time guv'nor.
“I would settle for six,” he said. And at half time he had them.
“I would have settled for six. But the next best thing is four. And the players are disappointed – they do get disappointed when they have a 2-0 lead and it is pulled back.
“But we've said in there: 'Don't get your heads down because that point could be very valuable at the end of the season.”
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