It was nice to get that familiar feeling back on Saturday, wasn’t it?
Charlie Austin marked his return to the starting line-up with a goal before I suspect many had even sat down at London Road.
However with two goals in a short period of second-half time from Tommy Rowe, the Clarets had to settle for a point against the bottom club, courtesy of an 89th-minute Martin Paterson leveller.
After an impressive start to the month, taking one point from the last two games against two of the league’s strugglers has perhaps been a little deflating.
However, the loss to Birmingham was undoubtedly a result of circumstances beyond our control and, despite Peterborough currently propping up the rest of the Championship, a draw away from home can never in my opinion be that bad a result.
What’s more, between now and the end of the season, it is our results against those in and around the play-off places which will determine our top-six hopes the most.
Towards the end of February our play-off credentials will be thoroughly put to the test with consecutive fixtures against Middlesbrough and Brighton – the teams which lie one place above and below us respectively at the moment.
Before all that however comes a fixture which, regardless of Owen Coyle, will continue to get pulses racing for the foreseeable future.
Having been beaten at Turf Moor on the opening day of the season, Bolton’s fortunes have gone from bad to worse.
After finally removing Coyle and replacing him with former Crystal Palace boss Dougie Freedman, Wanderers continue to languish in the lower echelons of the Championship, with only three points currently separating them from the bottom three.
As sad as their plight is, all sympathy will no doubt be cast aside on Saturday, with a win potentially taking the Clarets just one point away from the play-off spots.
Along with the return of Austin, there was more good news this week with the contract of winger Ross Wallace being extended until 2015.
While Wallace has come in for criticism in the past from some sections of the crowd, he can cross a ball as well as anyone in the current squad, and his prowess from set pieces could well be vital as the season progresses.
So how to celebrate a new contract?
Well Ross, a 25 yard thunderbolt on Saturday certainly wouldn't go amiss.
@_thomasturner
