BY MIKE McKINLEY I remember once upon a time we couldn t get a result on the road. It seems so long ago, trundling up to the likes of West Bromwich Albion and playing like dogs, scuttling back home with no points and a week in the bottom three our prize. Where was this

I remember once upon a time we couldn't get a result on the road.

It seems so long ago, trundling up to the likes of West Bromwich Albion and playing like dogs, scuttling back home with no points and a week in the bottom three our prize.

Where was this Tottenham earlier in the season, the one that heads up the country with some steely determination and comes back worthy winners against a side trying to break the mythical top-four?

Apart from a couple of spells in the first half and some nervy final minutes after letting in the obligatory goal, this was as convincing an away win as we've seen in a long time.

And it continued a recent run of very decent performances that have hopefully banished the spectre of relegation, and set the most optimistic of sights upon seventh place and Europe once again.

I'll be happy to see the former made a certainty before worrying too much about the latter, with a part of me even maybe willing to forego the adventures of the Europa League in favour of a return to the simpler pre-Europe times, when we could guarantee plenty of appearances from Ledley King and make a decent fist of playing at the other end of the table.

Does our recent run mean the team's finally taking shape and settling into something that can make waves next year, or have we just done well against sides having a wobble of their own?

Chelsea's visit on Saturday may provide a bigger clue, and after so many years of defeats our recent form against them has been solid enough to suggest another step up the table might be on the cards.

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