For those of a Catholic outlook, looking on the pages of the club’s website or regularly refreshing the 5th Stand app is becoming an increasingly familiar habit. Is there any sign of white smoke? For centuries the Vatican has announced that they have finally chosen a new Pope by releasing white smoke. We still await our version over Stamford Bridge.

Plenty of people thought we didn’t have a prayer arriving at the home of the champions at the weekend. That seemed to be borne out in the first quarter of the game when we went 1-0 down, even struggling to get out of our own half. Somewhat hearteningly things improved as the game wore on and by then end, there was a very good argument that we deserved something out of the game after creating a very decent number of chances.

Raheem Sterling had one saved by the leg of Stefan Ortega and the header off the post by Conor Gallagher was also among the best opportunities unlucky not to be taken.

If a gaffer from above (okay I’ll drop the religious references after this) has been looking down on his new flock assessing who has looked well, I reckon he has probably seen the best little period from Raheem Sterling since his arrival at the start of the season, which is heartening.

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Enzo looked like a man who wants to take responsibility and is demanding others around him do the same. He may be only 22, but he has the look of a skipper about him on days like this, leading by example and talking to others on the pitch.

He didn’t need to have a word with Conor Gallagher who was as ever giving a decent impression of being two players at the same time. He was everywhere, defending one minute and then getting into the opposition box seconds later.

Tactical tweaks

Lots of teams get beaten by Man City and yes we all know that it wasn’t exactly their ‘A’ team, but there was no lack of top-class talent in sky blue on the day.

Even the tactical shifts by Frank worked well, specifically when Azpi had to drop a little deeper and forego most of his marauding forward wing-back roll. There were a difficult opening 20 minutes when Cole Palmer got too much space but that was soon sorted. In short there were a number of positives to take from the game, even if a defeat, whoever it is against, is a bitter pill to swallow.

Lewis Hall was given another start and once again he impressed on that left-hand side, showing no fear as he powered forward and just as importantly, he kept the brilliant Riyad Mahrez quiet for much of the game. Sitting beside Jason Cundy as we covered the match, he correctly noted that this is already in some ways the start of next season. Well that or maybe this is the pre-season, where decisions are made and players capabilities have to be considered.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek had a go in central midfield and certainly had his moments, especially when he did that roll and drive move he is so accomplished at.

It will be interesting to see how Frank will adapt the side for the game on Thursday night. It wasn’t a bad performance against City, but the red side of Manchester ask different questions.

Doesn’t always take a lot

I was at Nottingham Forest the day before our game at City as they beat Arsenal to secure their own Premier League safety and hand the title to Manchester City. The most obvious thing I took from the day - apart from the very impressive celebrations, avoiding relegation can feel as good as winning the Champions League - was the level of improvement Forest have managed in a relatively short period of time.

I look around at the likes of Bournemouth who have also shifted through the gears quickly when everyone expected them to stall and crash into the Championship. Change can be made in no time. Brighton are another team who have surprised everyone. They were more than decent before but this season there has been a step change. Even Liverpool, who were bang average for much of the season, rediscovered their mojo to go on a 10-match unbeaten run, amazingly almost getting them back in the top four.

The point is that it doesn’t always take a huge amount to change a team’s fortunes, sometimes just a few tweaks, a couple of new players and a steadfast idea that works for the group. We have even managed to do that ourselves over the years.

These have been dark times, but they say the night is often darkest just before the dawn. I wake up each day hoping for the best, and maybe also looking for those puffs of white smoke. All in good time though, it is better to get it right than get it done quickly.