http://tinyurl.com/22n2d8 The Championship is finally underway, but it’s been a double frustration from my point of view. Having to sit in the stands and look on was disappointing; I hate not playing and being involved in games. Both me and Anton had to sit it out after playing so many games together this season. He’s got a little knock, but he should be alright, and I’m back next game after sitting out with a suspension for the two yellow cards I picked up in Germany. I’ve been involved with the qualifiers, but when you come to the big games, the first one of the tournament and you can’t be involved, it’s a massive kick in the teeth. The feeling is horrible not to play. The whole defence played well from minute one, though, they did their job right and got the clean sheet. The gaffer asked for a one before the game and he got it. Nedum came in to the centre back slot with Gaz and I think he did really well and looked comfortable, while Scott made a couple of very important saves. But the team collectively did very well, it just didn’t fall for us on the day. Our time will come and I think we are still well in there. We know we’ve got to win the next two games and we’re confident we can do that. If you look at the ability we’ve got, there’s enough to get the results that we want. It’s a shame for Leroy as well, he’s a great lad and had the guts to get up and take the penalty, but when you look at the game we had the chances before that to get the three points. Leroy’s full of confidence at the minute and has been scoring all the time in penalties. It takes a lot of courage for someone to get up and take a penalty in that situation but unfortunately it just didn’t happen. It just wasn’t meant to be. It was a strange atmosphere though, the stadium wasn’t as full as we are used to, but the crowd got involved and you could here some of the England fans getting behind the lads and that really helps. You need that encouragement during a game. I sat and watched the game a few rows back from our dugout with The FA people who are out here working behind the scenes, but I don’t like watching games, especially when I know I should be involved. But you have to support the boys and show you are there for them and that’s the thing about this side, we have that collective spirit where we all support one another. The spirit in the side is strong and there’s a lot of banter flying around. We’re all trying to keep ourselves busy during the quiet periods, when you’re away for so long you need to do things to keep entertained. The other night we nipped into the office and myself, Vaughany, Bainsey and Liam ‘borrowed’ our Video Analyst Steve’s camera and made a little film. There’s a number of life-size cardboard cut-outs of the players dotted around the hotel, so we got hold of a few of them and imitated the lads and did a few impressions to camera. Hopefully we can edit it all together and knock up a little DVD and, when the time comes, maybe later in the competition, we can dish a few copies out or have a showing in the team meeting room. We can have a good laugh, but we know when to be serious and get down to it. The lads know when to switch on and they are focused on doing well this summer. The squad’s as good as any other in the tournament and we’re not scared of anyone. If anything England is a team that people fear, we just need that little bit of fortune now. Come Thursday hopefully it will come. Steven Taylor --

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