North Stander: The one big thing which has to change if we are to survive this season

Even a draw would have been such a confidence-booster. We played some really good stuff at times, but ultimately let ourselves down. The soft last-gasp winner was an absolute sickener. More on that later…

It was little or no consolation that our thriller with a horror ending was chosen as Game of the Day by Sky Sports and was first on Match of the Day. I would have much preferred a dull as ditchwater 1-0 win!

Having said that, amid the misery and disappointment, there were plenty of positives. We scored three really good goals – which Lineker and Shearer didn’t mention –  and should have had at least one more.

Kieran McKenna’s side were much improved at Brentford (Image: PA)Overall, despite injuries, illness and a dubious red card, it was miles better than the last two below par performances.

But once again we’re talking about fine margins. If Smodics had put us three up, as he should have done, then surely there was no way back for Brentford?

But we let them off the hook and, like the seasoned Premier League side they are, they made us pay by surging into a lead.

Then, despite being a man short, it looked for all the world as though we had grabbed a point, only to throw it away deep, deep into injury time with the softest, most frustrating goal imaginable.

Our keeper is, inevitably, getting a whole heap of criticism and he was certainly at fault. But it was a case of “after you” between him and our centre halves. Someone – almost certainly Aro Muric – should have grabbed the situation.

But their hesitancy summed up our lack of confidence at the back, and what seem to be poor levels of communication between Muric and the back four.

Town have conceded 20 goals in nine games so far (Image: PA)That’s now 20 goals conceded in nine games. That has to change, or we’ll be watching Championship football again next season.

Should Muric be dropped for Christian Walton to return? Maybe, although chopping and changing isn’t usually the answer. I know one thing – if Muric plays against Leicester, the Sir Bobby Robson Stand needs to give him one heck of a welcome when he runs towards us before the match.

Lady Luck certainly isn’t smiling on us at the moment. Our injury list grows longer by the day. Chiedozie Ogbene looks likely to be missing for months, and both Sam Morsy and Jack Taylor are already doubtful for next Saturday. That’s on top of long-term absentees Axel Tuanzebe and Jacob Greaves.

I don’t want to worry you, but Liam Delap looked like he had a groin injury late on. Is he carrying an injury? Is that why he was on the bench? What a goal he scored at Brentford, by the way…

Overall, as we reach the end of October, even the most optimistic fan would admit the situation is concerning. Nine games, no wins, only four points. Three consecutive defeats for the first time under Kieran McKenna.

Liam Delap scored again – he’s taken to Premier League life well! (Image: PA)And yet, there are still positives. Despite a much-changed lineup, we were so much in the game on Saturday. George Hirst and Conor Chaplin played so well, Jens Cajuste impressed despite not being match fit. Apart from the West Ham and Everton games, we have been competitive. But it is so, so tough.

I’m sure some people will be describing Leicester next Saturday as a “must win game.”

Utter nonsense. There is no such thing at this stage of the season.

So what happens if we don’t win? Do we just give up? Of course not. I certainly think it’s a big game, against fellow new boys.

I think it will be an absolute goal-packed thriller. Neither team can really defend, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see another six or seven goals.

Let’s just hope upon hope that we come out on the right side of this one – maybe Lady Luck will smile on us for once.