It’s midweek, and as we pause to catch our breath, last week’s experience casts a long shadow, not one of despair, but of reflection. This is that in-between moment where the sting of defeat still lingers on the tongue, yet the mind is already recalibrating, hoping last weekend’s pain becomes this weekend’s progress.
Because let’s be honest, one defeat tastes bad enough. But two in quick succession? That’s like a baby’s first encounter with a lemon the anticipation, the shock, the twitching disbelief that follows. It’s sour, confusing, and almost comically painful to watch, but somehow necessary. Lemons are good for humans after all. Maybe defeats, once in a while, are good for football teams too, not because they’re pleasant, but because they force you to think, to change, to grow.
Of course, no team wants to lose. Unbeaten runs are glorious. Just ask Bayer Leverkusen, until Ademola Lookman decided to write his own fairytale in the Europa League final. Invincible seasons are great for headlines, but sometimes they hide flaws. A loss, though, strips everything bare. It tells you the truth you’ve been ignoring. And for us, this might just be that moment, the inconvenient truth that reminds champions why they became champions in the first place.
Looking back at our unbeaten run, the signs were there. Seven goals in seven matches, just one in August, six in September. Respectable maybe, but not title-winning numbers. The defense carried the torch while the attack searched for its spark. Injuries played a role, yes, but the forwards must share the weight too. John Bassey has been benched for not scoring, and Alao Danbani looked like a man afraid to step inside the box. That’s never a good sign for such an experienced forward.
At the back, the early-season wall of steel has started showing cracks. Since the Bendel Insurance game, where we conceded twice despite winning, six goals have gone in and only five scored. Sunday’s own goal from Hussaini was harsh, the kind that happens once in a season, but when you need last-ditch goal-line clearances that often, something deeper needs attention. Maybe not from the center-backs, but from the shape in front of them.
Our midfield didn’t help much last time out either. There was effort, yes, but not enough bite. The fullbacks’ eagerness to push forward left gaps wider than we’d like, forcing the midfielders to cover too much ground and pulling our defense out of position. It’s a tactical puzzle that needs fixing, and quickly.
Two losses in a row aren’t the end of the world, but they are a warning. The badge we wear demands a higher standard. We’ll take the lessons, chew the lemons, and move forward because that’s what we do best. Defeat can bruise the body, but never the spirit.
Back tomorrow.
EnyimbaEnyi 💙
