We knew the crowd would be with us today and the volume was frightening. This is the best crowd in the country.

What it came down to today was that Council Rock played a little bit better than us.

Michael saw his specialist on Monday and had a good look at his latest X-rays. He is happy at what he has seen and heard and now it's full steam ahead for him. Things are going well for Michael and he is perhaps a week ahead of where we always thought he would be after his injury.

To suggest Michael Owen has had a setback is ridiculous. We accurately assess what stage players are at during their rehabilitation and Michael Owen is where we thought he would be at this stage of his recovery.

It will be touch and go. Apparently, he's certainly not behind (his recovery) time, if anything he might be a little bit ahead of time.

But Alan was in the dugout and as a future manager one day, I think he enjoyed it. He spoke to the lads in the dressing room. If he doesn't make that, he should be fit for Saturday against Everton.