But of course, football doesn’t work that way. Despite grey clouds above and a pre-match fan’s protest, the team produced one of those performances that sometimes get described as a ‘dead cat bounce’ – but maybe this is the worst possible week to use the phrase – as players came together to resolutely defend for a rare but deserved clean sheet, then having that little bit of fortune at the other end to be awarded and then convert a late penalty; the only shot on target but one of massive importance.

For the first time since New Years’ Day, fans were mostly happy as they left the stadium (although the now-somewhat-subdued protest did continue after the game) and made their way home or to the pubs. It’s just one victory, of course, but as the fans cheered every clearance and time-reducing free-kick in those closing moments, what was obvious was how much they cared. They obviously wanted the club they loved to win, and make the weekend that much better, but here’s the thing; they didn’t love the club any less during those seven defeats on the bounce. It just felt like they did.

Of course, it’s the aforementioned lows that also make the highs so much sweeter. If you don’t ever lose seven (or more) successive games, it’s hard to describe how it feels when you do. It’s not elation, nor is it an OTT reaction where we think that we can now kick-on and win every game. It is a satisfaction that we can get it right and that, with luck, better times may be ahead. Although at least one supporter was heard, post-game, calculating how many points we’d need to take to reach the play-offs. It’s the hope, after all, that kills you.

All football fans are – in essence – only ever just one game away from falling in love all over again. The distant memories of that win at Arsenal, the run to the League Cup semi-final and a draw at Anfield, promotion clinchers at Bury and Notts County, winning the title at Swindon and two play-off final wins and the only trip to Wembley, don’t happen every season – or even many seasons – but they do happen. Last week I watched as West Ham’s late equaliser at Kidderminster denied the home team the ‘biggest ever FA Cup shock’ and it was mentioned with comparable memorable FA Cup upsets but not the real GOAT (greatest of all time). That was when third division Walsall beat Arsenal 2-0. A full-strength Arsenal team who not only went on to win the league, but that had provided seven of the starting XI for England’s previous game. Although there are few still alive today who would have witnessed that giant-killing act, it doesn’t make it any less significant. It is one of the reasons that supporters continue to go, season after season, hoping that one of these days, a day like that one might just come around again.