After back-to-back defeats to Inter and Man City, both games where we were the better team for vast periods, it was good to return to winning form against Stoke City.Despite a patched-up team, the players scrapped and fought for every ball and our attitude was spot on throughout the match.

Seated in the Matthew Harding Lower, directly behind the goal, the CFCnet crew came away from the game delighted - all we ever ask is for the players to 'fight for the shirt' and against a determined Stoke we did that.Every single player attacked the ball and put their foot in.

Our favourite moment was Alex's crunching tackle on Tuncay as he bore down on goal. If the Brazilian defender had mistimed his tackle by a millisecond he'd have conceded a penalty and been sent off.As it happened the tackle was perfect and you could almost smell the liniment and earth whilst the resounding 'thud' of the tackle made our teeth rattle.It was that loud.

With six goals conceded in the two previous matches it was clear where our priorities lay and (the need for Mikel's goal line clearance aside) the whole defence performed brilliantly. Alex's display was world class and along with Ivanovic he was our man of the match.

Our only concern was that even with a patched up team Joe Cole never played.Is his time up after seven years?We hope not as he remains rabidly popular in the stands.But it was instructive that after a chant went up singing, 'He's here, he's there, he's every---where, Joey Cole, Joey Cole' a shrill voice piped up and shouted, 'no he's not, he's on the bloody bench'.

Whilst everyone laughed, there was a tinge of sadness too.The bottom line is that if Joe can't even get a game in the FA Cup sixth round, when exactly is he going to appear?From the Sunday newspapers it would seem 'not a lot' and he could be off this summer to get a regular berth.

From our perspective Joe Cole's best position is in the hole behind the strikers - a 'Teddy Sheringham role' showcased by Cole's pass to Lampard that saw us score our first goal against Man City.At Chelsea, however, there doesn't appear to be such a position and Joe's simply not quick enough to be a winger.What to do?

After the game we decamped to the Putney Station bar where the Chelsea Football Fancast is held.Hugely popular, especially with exiled fans abroad, this was the first time CFCnet had been invited on the show - after 108 episodes they'd eventually reached the bottom of the barrel!A two hour long special, you can hear Chidge, Martin, Chel Tel, Chris, Stu and Ross give CFCnet a hard time including the incisive question, 'are you lot independent from the Club?' Listen to the podcast and you can hear our answer.