Wanderers are bracing themselves for a tough life at the top.

A month into the season, the high-scoring Burnden boys sit proudly on top of the Division One table.

The smiles and the relaxed atmosphere suggest they are taking it all in their elegant, confident stride. But the easy-going style is just a front for an honest to goodness, hard working approach which will be put to the test by every team bidding to take the division's prized scalp.

Two home wins in the space of five days made up for the Southend setback re-establishing Wanderers as one of the hot promotion favourites.

Yet it wasn't all plain sailing en route to that six-goal hammering of Grimsby and Portsmouth made life difficult until superior class paid off.

The foundation of both wins was the work ethic Colin Todd has instilled into his players.

Nathan Blake took the accolades for his continuing golden touch in front of goal but the Welshman earned his reward for the graft and determination he put into both games.

And he was first to acknowledge what it took in terms of effort to secure those priceless six points. "I'm sure the fans didn't come on Saturday expecting to see another 6-1 drubbing," Blake suggested. "They were just happy to see us win.

"It's difficult playing two games in a week. Back to back games on Saturday and midweek really takes it out of you.

"Most teams would have settled for four points - even if both games were at home. Saturday's wasn't a great win but from our point of view it was a great result because we worked so hard to achieve it."

Chris Fairclough the Wanderer with most experience of top flight football, outlined the satisfaction the players felt in gaining their points for perseverence against Pompey.

"We knew we hadn't passed the ball as well as we could in the first half and we knew it was going to be difficult," he admitted. "But the instructions from the management team at half time was to be patient, sharpen up and play a hard working game. In the end it was a hard working performance and we got our reward for sticking at it. "That was the real highlight of the game for us."

There will be little respite as the season progresses but Todd will keep cracking the whip.

"Playing two games a week is hard work," he accepts. "It takes it out of them and makes it especially important they look after themselves in between games.

"But I'll keep driving them on and making sure the high standards I've set them don't slip."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.