THERE'S nothing quite like the way an away end erupts when their side scores a 95th-minute winner. Well, aside from a 96th, 97th or 98th-minute winner, of course.

Somehow travelling armies seem to celebrate that bit louder, bounce about a little higher and even appear to discover a way of bringing a 1970s-style terrace surge to all-seater stadia.

Meanwhile, substitutes and staff burst from the bench and join the pile of players on the pitch.

As they had at Charlton back in December, Town fans experienced the special post-match euphoria that only late, late, late away winners can bring at Watford on Saturday.

The Blues climbed back into the play-off places, while there were a remarkable variety of inflatables flying about the stand to boot. Football really doesn’t get much better than that.

It was probably Town’s most impressive performance of the season, given the importance of the game and the quality of the opposition, the Hornets having started the day top of the division.

It wasn’t one of those dominant displays where the opposition are taken apart with slick passing and clinical finishing but more a tactical battle.

Watford were never allowed to play a patient passing game with the Blues not giving them time on the ball.

When the home side did get an inch of space in or around the penalty area a Town defender was invariably on hand to snuff out the danger.

That the Hornets – the Championship’s joint-highest home goalscorers on 44 – weren’t allowed a single shot on target illustrated what an excellent defensive display it was.

When Town’s big chance came – Watford’s Odion Ighalo having blazed theirs over a few minutes beforehand – Richard Chaplow took it with the composure of a man who nets in such circumstances on a weekly basis rather than someone who hadn’t scored for more than 14 months. Cue terrace and pitch mayhem.

Saturday’s post-victory elation was dampened a little by a Sunday newspaper claim that Fulham want Mick McCarthy to become their new manager in the summer if the Blues fail to go up.

While the story is merely tabloid speculation at this stage, it wouldn’t be a surprise if one of the division’s more monied but struggling clubs, such as the Cottagers, showed interest in McCarthy if the Blues don’t win promotion.

Town, whose wage bill is probably somewhere near the middle of the division, have punched above their weight throughout the campaign, while plenty of others with the huge financial advantage of parachute payments – such as 20th-placed Fulham – have badly under-performed.

While McCarthy seems happy at Portman Road and signed a new three-year deal last summer, the chance to move to a club where resources aren’t so limited may well appeal, particularly one, like Fulham, closer to his family home in Bromley.

The Town boss has said before that he doesn’t see himself having a Premier League future unless he helps a club to promotion and ideally that will be the Blues this year, however, those with parachute payments might well be viewed as a better bet longer term.

But that’s all just conjecture, for the moment at least. Following the international break Town have the matter of seven huge games, starting with the visit of this week’s Championship leaders Bournemouth on Good Friday.

Having ruled his side out of the running for the automatic promotion places after the 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough, McCarthy ruled them back in again after Saturday’s result saw them move only five points (plus goal difference) off second.

The back-to-back 1-0 wins against Watford and on the previous Tuesday, Bolton, as well as the continuing wobbly form of other challengers, Derby in particular, have led to a renewed belief that this could still be Town’s year.

Eight sides now seem to be fighting it out for the top six positions with a play-off place looking well within the Blues’ grasp.

Claiming an automatic place will be somewhat tougher and will require plenty more results and performances like the one at Vicarage Road, starting with the Cherries game.

In November at the Goldsands Stadium, Bournemouth played Town off the park, the one side to do so this season, although even then the Blues managed to battle their way to a 2-2 draw.

I doubt McCarthy would be too disappointed with a similar outcome this time around, although late, late, late winners at home are pretty special too, come to think of it.