Chapter 14: So, He’s the Head Coach!
After a disappointing home draw against a newly promoted side in the opening round, the Bayswater Chinese Team found themselves slipping to 11th place in the league standings—only benefiting from alphabetical order over Grimsby Town.
Meanwhile, the true contenders had already begun showcasing their strength.
Queens Park Rangers, for instance, demolished Blackpool with a resounding 5-0 victory. Bristol, one of the promotion favorites, did the same against Notts County. Across 12 matches, 44 goals were scored, making for an explosive start to the season.
As Yang Cheng had predicted, the lower leagues exhibited a greater disparity in team strength than the top divisions.
But for Bayswater Chinese, another statistic was even more embarrassing: attendance.
Four matches recorded over 10,000 spectators, with the highest turnout at Loftus Road, where QPR's dominant performance attracted 15,000 fans. Ironically, the lowest-attended match was also in London—Bayswater Chinese's fixture drew only 2,513 spectators, a continuation of the club's struggle in recent years.
The average attendance for the opening round of League Two was 8,241, highlighting the work that lay ahead for Yang Cheng in reviving the club from the mess left by his father.
And things got worse. Just three days after the Grimsby Town draw, Bayswater Chinese crashed out of the League Cup, suffering a 1-2 defeat to Colchester United.
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August 16 – League Two, Round 2
For their away match against Rusten Diamonds, another newly promoted side, Yang Cheng stuck to his 4-3-3 formation.
The first half was a one-sided affair, with Rusten Diamonds pinned back, barring a brief five-minute counterattack spell. The Chinese team controlled possession, created several dangerous chances, and dictated the tempo—but failed to convert.
Then, just as Yang Cheng and his staff felt their side was finding a rhythm, disaster struck in the second half.
Rusten Diamonds, coming out with renewed intensity, pressed aggressively in midfield, catching Bayswater off guard. In the span of three chaotic minutes, they struck twice, leaving the Chinese team rattled.
Though the visitors eventually regained composure—thanks in part to Ribery's assist for Tony Capaldi's goal in the 77th minute—it wasn't enough. The match ended in a disappointing 1-2 loss.
With just one point from two matches, plus an early League Cup exit, Bayswater Chinese had started the season in dismal fashion, now sitting 17th in the table.
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Tactical Meeting in London
Returning from Northampton, Yang Cheng gathered the squad for a post-match analysis. The players braced for a scolding.
But instead, they were met with praise.
"I saw a lot of positives," Yang Cheng said. "The first half, and our play after the 70th minute, showed real promise. With better luck, we could have won this match."
He highlighted key moments, singling out Ribery as the team's best performer. He also acknowledged the defensive lapse from Koscielny and Roger Johnson but emphasized that outside of those three disastrous minutes, they had been solid.
As for Modric, his mistakes had led to both goals conceded, with the opposition deliberately targeting him after halftime. Yang Cheng knew that Modric's slight frame made him vulnerable in England's lower leagues, where referees allowed more physicality.
He reassured the Croatian but made it clear—adaptation was necessary.
Despite the loss, Yang Cheng urged his team to remember the aggressive response they mounted after conceding.
"That's the football we want to play. That rhythm, that energy—hold onto it."
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August 23 – League Two, Round 3
Bayswater Chinese faced Stoke Harbour at home, with only 2,000 fans in attendance.
Determined to turn things around, the team came out firing from the opening whistle.
The players were finally adjusting to the relentless intensity of League Two football. Ribery, in particular, was electric on the left flank.
In the 21st minute, he burst down the wing and whipped in a low cross. Striker Steed used his strength to hold off a defender before firing the ball home.
1-0!
The sparse crowd erupted.
Just two minutes later, Ribery struck again, this time providing a near-post assist for Martin Roland, who slid in to double the lead.
2-0!
And before Stoke Harbour could recover, the Chinese team struck again.
Five minutes later, Ribery orchestrated another attack, leading to a pinpoint cross from Martin Roland. On the right, Martin Devany surged forward, beat his marker, and squared the ball into the box.
Steed was there again—this time with a header.
3-0!
Yang Cheng leapt up in celebration, joined by his coaching staff.
In under ten minutes, the team had dismantled a mid-table side from last season.
The second half saw controlled play, with Yang Cheng resting key players ahead of a midweek match. Stoke Harbour improved slightly but never seriously threatened.
Then, in the 83rd minute, Ricky Lambert, having come on as a substitute, sealed the victory with a clinical finish from a Steve Jenkins cross.
4-0!
A dominant performance.
The emphatic win earned Yang Cheng's praise, lifting the team to 14th in the standings.
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August 26 – League Two, Round 4
Bayswater Chinese traveled to Chesterfield, with Yang Cheng rotating his squad to manage fatigue.
Despite the changes, the team controlled possession and dictated play, their passing game improving with each match. Chesterfield, unfamiliar with such fluid football in League Two, struggled to cope.
However, wasted chances in the first half proved costly.
Chesterfield capitalized on a counterattack after the break, with striker Green Hurst bursting past the defense before being hauled down by Roger Johnson in the box.
Penalty.
Captain Brandon converted with ease, putting the hosts ahead.
Bayswater fought back, equalizing in the 77th minute through a Ribery assist to Martin Roland.
1-1.
A hard-fought draw left the team in 16th place.
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August 30 – League Two, Round 5
Bayswater Chinese faced Brighton, a newly promoted side that had defied expectations, sitting third in the table.
More concerning, however, was Brighton's head coach—Steve Coppell.
Brian Kidd warned Yang Cheng about Coppell's aggressive tactics, and true to form, Brighton showed no hesitation in taking the fight to the Chinese team.
The match was a bruising battle from the outset.
Brighton struck first in the 14th minute, courtesy of an own goal by Steve Jenkins.
Five minutes later, Koscielny redeemed himself with a powerful header from a corner, leveling the score.
But just before halftime, Brighton struck again. A corner kick found center-back Guy Butters, who nodded in to restore their lead.
After the break, Yang Cheng urged his players forward. They pushed relentlessly but struggled to break Brighton's defensive setup.
Then, in the 73rd minute, a misplaced pass in midfield proved costly. Brighton's Leon Knight exploited the error, breaking free to score on a one-on-one.
3-1.
Yang Cheng buried his face in his hands.
Then, he stood up, his expression unreadable—except for an unshakable resolve.
"Substitutions!" he called out.
Brian Kidd nodded, already anticipating the move.
As Ricky Lambert and Lee Williamson prepared to enter, Steve Coppell observed the scene with curiosity.
He knew Brian Kidd well—if anyone was coaching this team, it should have been him.
Yet Kidd remained in the background, while the young man in front of him dictated every move.
Coppell's eyes narrowed in realization.
So he's the head coach!