Logica returned from their early-season break in frustrating fashion, as a single Red Star strike delivered three points to Croydon. The two sides were level on points at the start of play, and both could justifiably claim genuine promotion aspirations based on results so far. But a disjointed performance left the home fans leaving the Stade feeling that Logica had not really done themselves justice, and that this was the kind of match that they really should be winning if they are to be considered as genuine title contenders.

Whilst a three week rest had enabled the likes of , and to recover from injury, it had also killed some of the momentum the team had accumulated from playing every Sunday and turning in increasingly impressive performances. For the most part the Logica players looked a tad rusty, slower to react in most situations, whilst the flowing passes seemed to founder at every turn.

It was ironic then that hindsight found Logica’s best period coming in the opening ten minutes. Straight from the kick-off, a slick passing move ended with trying to release who had made a good run into space through the inside-left channel. The ageing striker would have had a clear run on goal, but the pass was over-hit. This seemed to set the pattern for the morning, with Logica’s final pass invariably mis-directed or hit straight to an opponent.

Action minutes later suggested ’s frayed elastic bands had been firmly glued back together, for the time being at least. The striker (preferred at the eleventh hour to the unfortunate for a starting place) was alert to intercept a Croydon pass and sprint clear of a lunging tackle down the right touchline. nonchalantly cut inside another flailing tackle, but with and quick to support and provide crossing options, he crossed weakly straight into the keeper’s arms.

After this early promise, the wind seemed to be taken out of the Logica sails, although the home players continued to huff and puff. Some long throws put pressure on the Red Star back-line, and and were inches away from hooking bouncing balls goalwards. But the home side only managed one further effort on target before the interval. The build-up was promising as the ball was moved sharply up to , but after his effort was blocked couldn’t make proper contact with the loose ball, and his toe-ended shot ran harmlessly through to the keeper.

For their part, Croydon were a neat and well-organised side, and in their central midfield number seven, probably had the best player on display. But despite their calm and eye-pleasing build-up play, Red Star clearly lacked a cutting edge in front of goal, a characteristic that would account for just seven goals in five unbeaten matches this season. A more direct weapon was some huge goal-kicks from the gangly Red Star keeper, but for the most part , and won most things in the air. Indeed, in the Logica goal was only really called upon to make one save of note, spectacularly tipping a shot from the edge of the box around the post at full stretch.

Given these two blunt attacks, the nature of the game’s solitary goal ten minutes before the interval was perhaps not that surprising. Red Star intercepted more poor passing from Logica and the ball was fed towards the inside-right channel. In a microcosm of their rustiness, three Logica defenders were drawn to the ball but none got there first. The ball was lofted first-time to the by-now unmarked Red Star right winger, but despite having ample time to line up his shot, the attempted half volley was still completely sliced. Where as a golfer would have found himself in trouble in the rough, this scuff inadvertently found its intended target by completely wrong-footing as the ball lolloped up and over the bemused keeper and just inside the near post [0-1].

Some stirring words from during the interval found a more urgent home side starting the second half. But still the Logica players could not turn their labour into out and out dominance, as all too often the final pass continued to go astray as through-balls were hit straight at defenders, or crosses lofted straight down the keeper’s throat.

Efforts on goal from both sides were minimal after the break. was played in on the left only to see his shot blocked by a sliding defender, whilst turned sharply to flick a bouncing ball over the bar. At the other end, Red Star’s main threat was the counter-punt from their keeper as Logica pushed more men forward in search of an equaliser. But and , in particular, dealt with everything launched at them one way or another.

acted positively to try and force an equaliser, throwing on the whole contents of his attack-minded bench. But to no avail. At least maintained his high standards of integrity at the after-match press conference, confessing that his team had not played as well as in earlier games, and that they could have few complaints about the result. There was no criticism of the referee, no complaints about any opposition players at all, and the soup was kept firmly under wraps. With practice, it seems, one can learn to lose gracefully and with dignity.