I actually feel better now that this game is over with. It was a terrible performance but we're a point closer. Win at Barnsley assuming Watford manage to win their next two games and it's done. It's a shame we're edging over the playing terribly but we're steadily getting there.
There are only two ways we can go up and save some self-respect, either we win our remaining games or through the play-offs. That was another very poor all round performance between midfield and attack; defence was solid, although Stockdale makes me nervous at times. We are far too bunched in midfield which stops attacking players getting a run at goal, when the ball drops for a shot we try and walk it in. I never thought I would say it but we missed Koren who is the only player we have who can consistently (well fairly!) score to the occasion. On that performance both Barnsley and Cardiff will turn us over and the play-offs will be embarrassing. I am behind the team, but what a ducking disappointment they are as an attacking unit.
Very resolute and solid performance from Bristol. Very plain performance from City. The pressure was clearly onto the players as Steve Bruce mentioned, and a massive special mention to Brucey who said it as it is. My favourite quote was when Burnsy said, "The fans are rather down and disappointed" to which SB replied with "Why? We're 7 points clear with 2 games to go. Watford could lose tomorrow". (Not word for word, but generalisation). Bristol had nothing to play for and showed it. They were relaxed and calm in possession and defended well. City lacked that little bit of quality needed to break down their defence. The midfield were pretty much to blame tonight though, as they were missing for the vast majority of the game. Nothing much really went wrong apart from the ability to get a goal-scoring chance. Aah well. Party at Oakwell boys?
The booing was shocking, but for Pete's sake, subbing the two forwards was bizarre. Should have taken fryatt off for either Fathi or Cairney and stuck Boyd upfront with Gedo. We all know Boyd doesn't perform in midfield for us at all. And starting with two half fit strikers up top....amazed he didn't go with Boyd and Simpson with the option to change things with Matty and Gedo on the bench. Also, if Prosvhwitz is the answer, the question must be how can we pose even less of a threat upfront in the second half. Poor team performance today but also poor performance from Bruce in my opinion.
I don't know what is happening on the training ground but the quality of our football has dropped dramatically. Our passing is weak, our possession poor and we are lucky that we could win it back pretty quickly from a team already relegated. Crosses are either over-hit or under-hit and the use of both feet seems to be verboten! The media can see this and keep on about how we are all but promoted when the reality is they smell and hope for a sensational capitulation onto and out of the play-offs. It is basic football, personal skills that is letting us down and not the forwards selected, or any other position for that matter. Bristol defended well, but not brilliantly, we simply lacked either imagination or ability to break down their mediocrity. The comments from Steve Bruce about us being in front with points in-hand is a smoke screen because there can be no way he can ever be happy with that coming straight after Wolves. The booing was wrong, but it came from a huge disappointment – not so much in failing to get the win, but the nature of the failure. Watford will smell blood and weakness and we are doing our very best to motivate them!
Win our remaining games? We need 1 win but only if Watford don't loose again this season. Get some ****ing perspective you bottling twat!.
We don't even need a win, probably just a point. I had a feeling coming on here tonight after the match might be a bit aggravating as our fans seem to think we need to win every single match at the best of times. There was somebody on here last week suggesting that Wolves were 'old men that couldn't be bothered': as if Bristol wouldn't turn up tonight too! Maths and our position tonight says we are going up, nothings changed recently. I would prefer it if the very small percentage of our fans didn't boo but in any given situation with people a certain percentage of those people will be idiots at the end of the day.
Thanks for your kind words, nowt like sharing views and opinion. If you read what I have written, I am talking about self-respect. I can do the math and understand how we can squirm home, but it is an inglorious process – if we manage it and I do hope we do. I don't bottle and that is because I have some self-respect myself - it leaves a bad taste to have to rely on others playing really badly; even worse than us. We have played some poor teams, lost and drawn (at home) because we are very similar. Are you happy with the football we have been playing? Start, middle or end of season (it's the same for all teams) we look for a winning attitude, but it seems we cannot buy a goal when we need one. Like I said, SB needs to address this as that is exactly what we pay him and his coaching team for (and the players). That's my perspective, although it may not conform to yours.
Last Nights draw presents CARDIFF CITY with the championship title. Well almost. CC only need to draw todsy to clinch it. Well done Cardiff City. Could be a double celebration by 5pm today though. Ticket office last night confirmed that almost 3000 tickets sold for Barnsley away next week and 11 Tiger Travel buses full. Both have yet to be made available on a General Sale basis.
