However, from what I am led to believe - things were much improved at Stockport. Must admit, I missed this one due to work commitments, and I was not that fussed given the offerings so far.

But, to be met at work by Leeds fans saying "your bloody lot have gone above us" immediately told me we must have won, but I was not expecting a score line quite so emphatic.

Stockport have done well so far, including a win at Hartlepool who made us look like school boys recently.

It would seem though that the team appears to be starting to gel, and to keep a clean sheet away from home and help ourselves to three fully deserved goals in just what the doctor ordered.

Gary Hooper has got big boots to fill. United's record with bringing on strikers over recent years is probably one of the reasons he chose to join the Iron.

On the flip side, it means there is pressure on him to perform to the standards we have become acustomed to from the likes of Billy Sharp, Andy Keogh, Jermaine Beckford and Martin Paterson.

I have seen enough so far to already rank him above Pato, and although the other three will take some catching - he is going about his job in the right way, and three goals to his name already is no mean feet.

As we all know, promotion is also going to mean goals coming from elsewhere in the side, so to that end, it was good to see Grant McCann get his tally under way - and what a good strike it was too.

At this level, a great ball playing midfielder, and with form and confidence under his belt, there are no too many better players of his type about in this league.

I have also heard a lot of good reports about Martyn Woolford. Fairly much unknown, playing for Mickey Mouse R Us before York snapped him up and having proven himself at Conference level, Scunny stumped up a hefty amount of cash for his services.

He is now snapping at the heels of Kevan Hurst for that left wing berth, and in the few minutes he has had so far, he has done all he can, and I can see him getting a start before long.

He did of course get a start in the JP Trophy against Notts County. I know we all have differing opinions on this tournament, and if we get to Wembley i dare say mine will change - but I really don't give a monkies about it.

We put a strong team out against County and should have scored 10 against a team who only really had two or three players worth worrying about.

That lad on the wing looks a good player, and being fair, he ripped Cliff Byrne to bits at times.

There is no way we deserved to be losing going into the final minute, but credit where credit is due - it is normally us that balls things up at that stage, but up stepped Mr Hayes with a perfectly timed double!

Thoroughly deserved win - but the front players, all four of them, need to sharpen up in the League if we are to push on.

A crucial couple of weeks coming up in my opinion - we need to go on a run of results to set our stall out.

Up the Iron

Simon Sephton