Micky

Relax, this not just any Russian roulette, this is SFC Russ's Russian roulette - high risk for high rewards (supposedly)!

Got the job done. 3 points is 3 points. You make your own luck in this game. Onwards and upwards. Preston is now the most important game of the season. Any clichés I've forgotten?

More 'livin' on a prayer' actually....!

Are we really still kicking this can down the street....?

Exactly this. He was given all the tools to succeed yet we find ourselves out of the auto promotion places with 10 games to go. Even if he gets us up through the playoffs I still think that it's time to 'mag to grid', harsh maybe but the same pretty much happened to Nigel after he got us to the Prem.

Don't think Coventry will be too bothered about coming to fortress SMS at all. Most teams now probably see us as a bit of a test, ex prem side but easily beatable. They are actually pretty decent and their need is greater than ours, so I can see them doing us. That said if we play the right players, in the right positions, start fast, and most importantly, keep our foot on the gas once we are on top, who knows, our winning form may return. Unfortunately Russ picks the team and decides the tactics, so it's unlikely that any of those things will happen. Doing it my way 3 - 1 win, Russ's way 1 - 2 loss...!

Martin's possession football is nothing like Cities, ours is based around winning the ball and securing it. In order to secure the ball we always go backwards towards our own goal and basically reset the game with us in possession and 11 opposition players in front of us. We then mess about, sideways backwards, trying to retain possession, creating very little throughout the course of the game. When City win possession they are comfortable to transition from anywhere on the pitch, no reset required. Obviously they have much better players. We are one dimensional, slow, laboured and no plan B, enjoy this season because the next 3 or 4 seasons are going to be much worse I fear.

You are the best team I have seen this season, not in terms of tactics, or players for that matter, but your desire to win is unmatchable, I just wish we had half the balls you have. I said yesterday that I really wouldn't want to get you in the playoff final, if we scored 6 you'd score 7, that's the measure of your team spirit. I'm of an age that I remember the last time you were in the top flight and I think now your time come again at last - I'm certain you will get promoted. If you manage to stay in for the first couple of years, that's the first big hurdle, but your right, you will lose more than you win and you manager will be picked off within months probably. All of that said I wish you all the best for the rest of the season, good luck.

Why surprised? Yes, agreed, we have been really good this season, some great entertainment home and away. But the bar was set at promotion, that's what we had to achieve, so we built the squad to do that. Unfortunately it doesn't look like we will get to the bar, and so we will look much different next season, and ultimately much weaker. How will you feel when we start to struggle in the championship in a half empty SMS, not quite so entertaining then.

It was out of my head months ago, we were never going to keep pace with the top 3. We've had one brief spell in the top spots, other than that we've chased coat tails all season. Our weaknesses have been apparent pretty much all season, lots of possession, not a lot of intent, and when the going gets tough we wilt. If (a very big if) we get to the playoff final there is no way I want to play Ipswich, if we scored 6 they'd score 7, they are relentless. Personally I think we have now consigned ourselves to the championship for many years to come, this season was the best chance of promotion and we (RM) blew it. That said, surely we are better than Burnley, Luton and Sheffield United right, so we may get a shot next season as well. There'll be lots of changes though and we will probably end up quite a bit weaker than we are now, so it's going to be a tough ride from here on in. This seasons highlight is likely to be an historic unbeaten run that got us nowhere and nobody but a Saints nerd is going to remember. Next seasons highlights is likely to be the return of two derby games with our near neighbours, what could possibly go wrong?

Decent first half but never ever really looked like winning the game. Our first thought all the time is to go backwards, backwards, backwards, Ipswich is the complete opposite. It's not the first time that I've pointed out how good they are, and they proved it again tonight. They just keep going and never give up, they were never going to lose that game. One this season is over its time to bin the possession at all costs football and get somebody in who understands that winning is all important, not pretty football which achieves the square root of nothing. I'm not to disappointed to be honest because I never expected anything from this game, playoffs will be interesting, but playing the way we do is not the way to win those either. Decent game, shit result, all too familiar this season.

Been really impressed by Ipswich every time I've seen them this year, not so much about tactics with them, but attitude and getting the job done. Whereas we are totally one dimensional and reliant on possession they have the ability to change it up when necessary, and they don't know when they're beat. Very impressed with the manager who appears to have stayed out of the limelight and quietly got on with the job. Can't see us getting anything here but it's not the end of the world, our auto prom race was run a few months back. Pray for the playoff gods to be on our side.

Said the same pretty much all season. Our game is based around possession, and little else which seems bizarre to me. We've had very large chunks of games, but done nothing with them. I reckon some team will break into the playoffs and win them, leaving us and Leicester looking over our shoulders wondering what happened. Far too much ball, not enough intent.

Which is exactly what you need to do, keep the back door shut and you only need to take one chance up front. Clean sheets breeds confidence throughout the rest of the team as well. Unfortunately we can be prone to leaking quite badly at the back, even against some pretty mediocre teams. I don't see us getting anything from Leicester, Ipswich or Leeds so it's the playoffs or bust for us.

Every time I watch him he seems to play with his head down, he has no idea who is around him, or what he is going to do next.