AS we boarded the coaches after Saturday's game we were cordially invited to disappear off back home to our slums by one disgruntled home fan displaying typical cockney charm.

Only he didn't use the word "disappear".

This fit of pique was greeted with great hilarity since we had enjoyed another good day out at the Bridge. It's a shame we can't play there every week.

Nine Premiership visits - five wins and four draws.

The ground is more akin to visiting a multiplex than a football stadium nowadays.

Two hotels, 22 brasseries, bars, suites and shellfish restaurants for the home fans. A freezing wind tunnel opposite the appropriate turnstile for the away fans.

I've never taken as much time over a pre-match pint as before Saturday's game - it's not for me to prop up the ailing finances of Chelsea Village PLC by paying three quid for a pint of flat Budweiser in a plastic cup. Such matters were soon forgotten as the serious action got underway.

The match bore several similarities to the game at Arsenal earlier in the season.

Once again we were indebted to a superhuman performance from Brad Friedel. Once again we recorded a two-one victory. And once again Dwight Yorke hit the back of the net.

But we played a lot better than at Highbury. As against Southampton, the team put in a full blooded, fully committed display which earned the moments of good fortune we enjoyed in the second half.

Apart from the obvious hero in Friedel, the outstanding outfield player on the pitch was the returning David Dunn. Ripping into tackles, beating men, crossing, scoring the winner - his performance had it all.

That was the best I've seen him play from an unfavoured wide position. He appeared to finally get through 90 minutes unscathed and, dare I say it, looks as if he has shed a few pounds?

Let's hope that the medical team has also got to the bottom of Damien Duff's injury problems.

So we're down to the last ten games, which can make or break our season.

Standing just five points off a UEFA Cup place and eight points off a Champions League spot this season could end up as anything if only we could find the sort of consistency which has proved elusive since returning to the Premiership.

Our win against Chelsea was only the fifth time we've recorded back to back victories over the last two seasons.

If we win on Saturday it'll be the first time we've recorded three straight victories. By way of contrast Charlton have recorded streaks of both four and five consecutive victories this season.

If we could put a sequence like that together now and maybe a couple of times a season in future, it would make a tremendous difference.

Next up Wor Kev and his kamikaze City side. We owe them one for the debacle on and off the pitch three seasons ago.

I'd love it, just love it if they defended like they did against Arsenal, who were four goals up after 20 minutes.

With two attack-minded sides and suspect defences a high scoring thriller seems inevitable. Nil nil it is then!