I haven't bothered to read through all of these posts - like Joe, I prefer to stay away from the internet for a bit, after we've lost. Too many people over-reacting - so apologies if I'm about to repeat what someone else has said.
I great point was made to me whilst I was walking back to the car last night. We only effectively dropped one point last night. ONE! Is this seriously anyone on here who would not have taken a point last night (though I'm not including that select group of "fans" that we have - those people who are along the same sort of lines of that Leeds "fan" who started a thread on here last night)? I'd have snatched your hand off for a point, and I've always said that. So the fact that we've lost, really does only mean that we're just one point worse off than where I wanted to be.
I've never, ever, ever understand why so many of us have been so hung up on the title. And amazingly, that it includes some of the really decent, down to earth, friendly posters on here. Who cares if it's first or second, who cares! Both get you automatic promotion. Please don't anyone tell me that you'd be disappointed to finish 2nd this season.
We were brilliant last night, The best we've played at home for a long, long time. But we lost, and more than that, we conceded three goals. Who was the last side to score three goals at St Marys? (Bristol Rovers in the league, Pompey in the cup, I think). And for that, you have to praise. I'm confident that we'd have beaten any of the other 22 sides last season with that performance, but it wasn't good enough to beat Reading. That's not our fault, that's well done Reading. Blackpool, West Ham, Leeds, Brighton, Saints. 15 points out of 15. Sensational. They deserve automatic promotion, they deserve the title. If our players are at all deflated after last night - and I'm sure they are - all Nigel has to do is stick up a list of Reading's results in the past three months (and especially the last three weeks), and tell them that that is why they lost, not because they played badly.
PS. Come on Brighton!