It will be good to be back at the KC Stadium again this weekend. With an international break, preceded by two trips to London, it really is ages since our last home game (the 2-2 with Everton) and, of course, we haven't won at home since the opening day against Fulham.
I wonder whether, perversely, our away form is already the key to our survival? Teams like ours always rise to the Premier League parroting the old "win your home games" cliché before a ball has been kicked. Despite the tiredness of the phrase, it maintains its ring of truth. A smart, consistent home record usually is 75% of the route to Premier League survival when you are a club feeling your way around the top tier like us.
Now, I know what you're thinking. "Aren't you defying the odds already and not any longer concerned by relegation?" is one such thing in your mind. And you're right, kind of. While we're grateful for and receptive to the plaudits (few of which, as a bonus, have patronised us) we're not fools, and neither is Phil Brown. There will almost certainly be a month - could be November, more likely December - where we'll hit a wall. As long as we can attain some points at home during this period then we'll still, utter disasters beyond the wit of any great thriller writer aside, be in a semi-strong position by the time the January transfer window emerges.
"Isn't a bit early to be concerned about home form?" is the other thing you may be thinking. True, we've only played three. And so far it's one each on the win, draw, lose front. You could swap Everton and Wigan around too - we got hammered by Wigan but drew with Everton, whereas a reversal of those results would have been deemed more acceptable (barring the actual hammering; maybe a close defeat instead - 3-2 instead of 5-0). But you get my point. West Ham United at home represents a crucial time for City's home form as much as it does for general expectation following the wins at Arsenal and Tottenham.
I'm glad we're back at home for all these reasons. We need a home win for the supporters; a home win for the team; a home win for the ambition; and a home win, now, for the expectation.
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