WITH three wins in three games, Macc fans could be forgiven for believing that the Silkmen will be vying for the upper reaches of League Two this season.
But the Macc manager, Keith Alexander, won’t be swept up in a wave of euphoria, despite watching his side take apart their hosts on Saturday.
He remembers all-too-vividly how sections of the support were calling for his sacking after four defeats in the opening four games of the season.
After the Port Vale win, Macc’s third in a remarkable turnaround, Alexander said: "I’d like to think we’re on the up but, on the whole, even in those defeats, I wasn’t that unhappy with the way we were playing and our ethos has stayed the same.
"We make sure we’re solid at the back and, once we get past the halfway line, we’re as good as anybody."
The introduction of the squad’s younger stars, in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy defeat at Crewe, has become the turning point of the campaign and Macc climbed up to 12th place after Saturday.
"But the worst thing we can do now is to get carried away," warned the unflappable Alexander. "I didn’t when we lost the first four games and I won’t do now that we’ve won three. The young lads have come in and done well. They’re playing with a bit of freedom and we’ve got a strong bench.
"There were some who were calling for my head after four games and I won’t forget that.
"The players will keep their feet on the ground and keep trying to get results."
As if more evidence was required of the fickle nature of the game, Vale boss Lee Sinnott was sacked in the aftermath of their 4-1 loss.
"Football has a habit of kicking you," said Alexander. "Lee’s out of a job after a defeat to my team, and I take no pleasure in that.
"I spoke to him after the game, he’s a nice enough man and I feel sorry for him. He’s a young manager in his first job and these days I think people don’t really give you long enough."
One man who isn’t spoken of in such reverence around East Cheshire this week is Vale midfielder Shane Tudor, who incensed the Moss Rose board with his post-match comments (see page 75).
"Shane Tudor’s bombed from every club he’s been at," continued the Macc manager. "It staggers me that he’s made a ridiculous comment like that.
"At the end of the day, he was a five-minute sub in a team that was well-beaten, that’s how good he is.
"I don’t know the lad and I don’t want to if that’s the kind of thing he comes out with.
"The owners and the board have put so much time and effort into making Macclesfield Town a sound club and to hear that staggers me.
"There’s been a full apology from Port Vale, and rightly so, and that should be the end of it now."
