WITHIN a four-day period I’ve had to be peeled off the stand roof twice after celebrating what I thought were potentially match-winning early leads, only to be picked up off the floor on both occasions after the Clarets conceded defeat.

Last Wednesday at White Hart Lane in our FA Cup third round replay, Burnley registered two goals in the first eight minutes. But critically, Tottenham got a quick goal back to instil hope of a revival which they went on to achieve 4-2 in the end.

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If not Alan Pardew, the watching Crystal Palace scouts would have jotted down a few notes highlighting our weaknesses. Loose marking down the left and on the edge of the penalty area are becoming a recurring theme.

They had obviously done their homework, as in an almost carbon copy comeback Palace bagged a goal to make it 2-1 at half time before claiming the spoils with a late winner.

Going 2-0 up and losing the game once could be classed as unfortunate, but giving it up twice has to be classed as careless because it means that we haven’t learned our lesson.

There were positives of course, not least of which was having scored goals in each of our last half-dozen fixtures.

But when you consider we could have feasibly taken maximum points from both games against Palace it makes it all the more frustrating that we are just above the relegation trapdoor.

It is to be hoped that we don’t rue those missed opportunities come the end of the season.

As for our FA Cup exit at Tottenham, I don’t go along with the line that we are better off out of the competition, because I believe with a Spurs scalp on our CV and the added confidence that would bring we would i) have beaten Crystal Palace, and ii) have the chance to prove a point against Leicester City in the fourth round.

With no game on Saturday it looks like a day at Uttoxeter racecourse instead for me, where after the last two games I’ll do well to remember there is no such thing as a certainty, no matter how far you are ahead.