By BrianC
September 29 2004

As we move into the month of October some games are already beginning to look pivotal to our season. Sundays game at home to Saracens appears to be just such a match. 

When the fixture list was first published we were well aware just how tough the start to the season would be. This has proved to be the case, we have only five points from the first four games. Particularly frustrating is the fact that in two of the games we lost we had a clear lead, only to give it away. If we are to stand any chance of a top three position a victory on Sunday is essential. Indeed, were we to lose this game, a season in/around the bottom of the table and subsequent failure to qualify for the Heineken Cup would seem likely.

Those of us who saw Saracens narrowly beat Wasps 13 - 11 in the London Double Header were impressed. I recall musing with a couple of people at the time that, on the basis of the performance we had just witnessed, they may even be contending for honours at the end of the season. Their record since then has been less than impressive. A narrow home victory over Worcester has been followed by defeats away at Sale and, perhaps most worryingly, at home to Leeds last week.

Last season we narrowly bear Saracens 31 - 34 at Vicarage Road but then went down to them 14 - 20 at home in what was a bitterly disappointing final game of the season.

It is now over ten months since we've won a Zurich Premiership game at the Madejski. Can we break our drought this Sunday? It will probably be the first time this season we'll have gone into a game as favourites to win. If that in itself doesn't put a jinx on us, we should do so.