Back down to earth with a bump - and you could almost hear the cheers in Wigan and Sunderland.
This has been billed as a crunch week for title-hopefuls Ipswich Town, with two home games in five days.
But they started part one of that mission with a bitterly disappointing - not to mention unexpected - defeat against well-organised Watford.
It was their first League setback since New Year's Day and the heat was turned on with third-placed Sunderland winning 4-1 against Rotherham.
Wigan, in second spot, now play Coventry tonight with a huge incentive to draw level on points and go top on goal difference. As he trudged back to the dressing room afterwards, Town boss Joe Royle wheeled his arms as if to lift despondent fans.
And he still has every reason to be optimistic, especially with another home game to make amends when Queens Park Rangers visit Portman Road on Saturday.
It sounds like a feeble excuse but his side were genuinely unlucky, having generally played well and created a catalogue of chances.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Wednesday, February 23, 2005
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