ON a day when every Town player made a vital contribution, centre-halfSantos gets the nod, and not just for his goal. The Frenchman was delighted to prod home his first goal in a Town shirt, to put the visitors two-up and in command during a marvellous first half.

ON a day when every Town player made a vital contribution, centre-half

Santos gets the nod, and not just for his goal. The Frenchman was delighted to prod home his first goal in a Town shirt, to put the visitors two-up and in command during a marvellous first half.

During the second half, however, 33-year-old Santos was back doing what he does best – frustrating the opposition with commanding headers and timely interceptions. It would have been easy to cave in under the pressure, but he and fellow centre-half Richard Naylor provided good protection for Kelvin Davis.

There were several other candidates for the man-of-the-match award. Chris Bart-Williams was a very close second, while the bustling Ian Westlake was always in the action.

Santos, though, especially as he was a big doubt during the build-up to the match with a foot injury, was second to none on an encouraging afternoon for Joe Royle's men.