THREE colleagues joined me in the challenge to get to the Macron when Network Rail weren’t running any trains and the local council were digging up Chorley New Road.

We thawed out with pudding, peas and gravy in the comfort of the fanzone where we discussed Emile Heskey’s pre-all right days.

Black Jack Casino provided the entertainment as they belted out some classic rock, finishing with a superb rendition of ‘With a Little Help from my Friends’.

Hopes were high as the Macron is becoming a fortress but three defeats on the bounce have got us looking over our shoulders at the clubs below us.

The first half was a poor affair between two struggling sides with little to bother either goalkeeper or the statisticians, other than Ben Amos’s fine save from Sam Baldock.

I don’t mind saying it but Emile Heskey’s meaty challenge on Lewis Dunk provided the only talking point as it could have been a red card but in fairness, he appeared to be off balance when he clattered into him.

The second half was a little better after Neil Lennon’s pep talk and the match was decided by a bit of quality from our promising youngsters, Josh Vela and Zach Clough.

There was a much better performance at Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, where we deserved something but got nothing.

Some days you have to grind a result out and this was one of those days.

The result was more important than the performance to give us breathing space until we start to get the players back from injury.

It is Neil Lennon’s first real crisis period with the Wanderers and the response has been good.

The leaky defence has been tightened up.

The losing run has been stopped.

The result meant that I had a big smile on my face as I headed for celebratory beer and curry in Manchester with a little help from my friends.