As Nick reported yesterday Thailand recorded a stunning 3-0 home victory over Oman. The result announces Thailand as genuine contenders in the group where the top two will progress to the final group stage. Thailand signaled their intentions that they weren’t going to be the whipping boys of the group when they came agonizingly close to grabbing a point away in Australia last Friday. The Thais were just four minutes away from holding the number two ranked side in Asia to a draw – it would have been one of Thailand’s best ever away results. Credit to Schaefer’s men: they seemed inspired rather than deflated by events in Brisbane and took to the field in Bangkok on Tuesday evening like men possessed. Their 3-0 win was just reward for a relentlessly attacking display which was in stark contrast to the cautious, uncreative Bryan Robson era. That era got off to a great start when Thailand won 3-1 in Singapore in an Asian Cup qualifier, but it proved to be a false dawn; this feels different though. Schaefer has a proven track record at this level, instills faith and confidence in his players, says the right things and isn’t afraid to put a few noses out of joint – going against the perceived wisdom that a foreign coach in Thailand needs to adapt to the Thai way of doing things.