WHEN people ask about how I think we've started the season, I have to tell them I'm a little bit surprised at how quickly we've started to adapt to life in Division Three.

Two classic examples of just how far we have progressed are our matches against Brighton and Cardiff City.

They are clubs who regularly get more than 6,000 and that, in itself, tells a story. They are big clubs, but we are matching them on and off the field.

We are very organised on the pitch and off it. In an ideal world we would like to have the same amount of people turn up at Aggborough, but that's never going to happen.

After nine games we have to be pleased with what we've achieved, particularly as I thought we had some tricky games during the early part of the season. We have played some of the favourites already and come through it well.

To be perfectly honest I was expecting a bit more of a mixed start, but there have been a lot of things that have pleased me.

Obviously, our points tally at the moment is great, but I also think it's very, very important that, along with Darlington, we have the meanest defence in the division.

But, in fairness, that's really no more than we deserve for all the hard work we are putting in.

We spent five weeks in pre-season getting the boys fit and then trying to warn them about what it's going to be like in the Third Division.

But you can talk to them as much as you want - the only way they are going to experience what it's all about is when they get out there themselves.

They got a shock at Scunthorpe against a physically strong side who were reduced to ten men. The fact they knocked us off the ball and were capable of sitting back and defending very comfortably against us, even when down to ten, was a lesson the boys certainly took on board, and it hasn't happened since.

But you are always going to lose games over what is a very tough league season, some of them unexpectedly too.

But, believe me, the players are making a note of their experiences and ensuring that very lesson, however hard, is learned.

I must say I didn't quite get the reception I was expecting from the Cardiff fans, bearing in mind my former Swansea City links.

I though it would be a lot worse, but my Swansea experience is over three years ago and maybe most of them had forgotten. There were little sections that remembered alright, but that was just banter, which I quite enjoy.

I think if they don't give you stick or boo you then you'd be disappointed because it would mean they'd forgotten all about you.

But, overall, I though the reception was good, it's a case of mutual respect really. Cardiff are a fantastic club with a very good supporters and I'd like to think that deep down they thought I did a good job at Swansea.

Tony Bird got more stick than me, but that's because more recently he'd played for Swansea and figured in matches against Cardiff on a number of occasions.

Tony, though, responded well to it. He was very unlucky with a header in the first half which brought a world-class save from their 'keeper.

He's got a reputation as a goalscorer and he's still got to find the back of the net for us, although I'm sure it won't be long now.

Stewart Hadley didn't play on Saturday be-cause his newly-born baby wasn't well and Tim Clarke didn't make the squad, after all, following his recent knee operation.

It was a tough week for Tim and towards the end of it he looked like somebody who had been out for a number of weeks. He looked sluggish and needed to work a little more on his fitness.