Ivan Katalinic's 'tache

Pardew: "how much would it annoy you if we went down to 10 men and pinched an injury time winner?"

In my twisted little world, I can see Millwall doing us a favour by beating Huddersfield and then us, having sneaked into the playoffs, thanking Millwall by dumping them out of the playoffs in the 2 leg semi-finals. Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!

Don't bother AP, if you're tempted. Just look at Tony Mowbray; 8 months and then it was the dole.

As I understand it, as a player under 24, Reading can either offer him a contract (which he could choose to sign and stay with them) or not. If they offer him a contract, and he declines, then he's able to sign for someone else but that other team will have to agree a transfer fee with Reading (or go to a tribunal to resolve). If they don't offer him a contract, he's like any other free agent and can sign for whoever he likes. I suspect he's happy here and would sign for us, whoever (realistically) offers him a deal. The sticking point for us would be if Reading offer him a contract, but he chooses us, as we'd then have to thrash out the fee.

Brilliant result - well done the lads. Shame about Huddersfield but at 2-0 up against 10 men, I thought they'd be on for a win anyway. I still believe we can do this, nonetheless; roll on (and over) Yeovil.

Win Saints dammit! Just about covers it...

Marvellous day. I was only 2 1/2 when Saints won the Cup so this is the first time I've seen us win a trophy. Fantastic to do it so well, too. Well done lads. 3 points on Thursday, too, would top off a brilliant week.

Probably. I imagine Barnard, Puncheon & Seaborne have all gone along too, to maintain team spirit etc.

So AP is considering playing someone who hasn't played much since he arrived, in the event of our injuries not clearing up? Didn't Pulis score for the ressies recently? Surely not...

How will we cope at the back now Lee's gone to Port Vale???

Loan deadline day today, so if AP is planning to bring anyone in, it has to be by 5pm...

It's Wembley; he'll be making sure he's fit!

Up until now, even through the Southern Area Final, I've been unable to shake off the feeling that the JPT is a joke trophy. Fast forward to now and the anticipation and excitement is starting to kick in as a trip to Wembley (and maybe even a trophy) beckons...

Good win under the circumstances. Really feared we'd mess this up, with one eye on Wembley but fair play, we've won. Not really ever going to be a game where we'd bust a gut; only ever going to do enough to win and "make sure I'm not like Thommo and miss out" IMO. Completely understandable too; how often do you get the chance for a kick about at the home of English football???

Key words for me as someone who was too young to remember the 76 FA Cup win.

...just before a trip to Wembley and with some of our key players not on the pitch...

Ex-Chelsea managing West Ham. Predictable, the minute things went wrong.

Indeed. Nervy or trying to do just enough without possibly, maybe getting a knock which would mean missing out on Wembley. Just a cynic at heart...

2 shots, 2 goals. Sounds like we're being sucker punched again...

And 3 of their side could be off to the World Cup for England!!

At least Pericard didn't get the winner...

Apart from 5 goals each against Walsall and Huddersfield and win over Leeds...

To be honest, I kind of feel better knowing it's 99% certain we won't be in the playoffs this year. All that desperately hoping we win every game nonsense to scrape in was beginning to get tiresome. To my mind, we should experiment with the players we've got for the rest of the season; work on formations, plans B, C & D, identify areas where we're short and who can be got rid of and get ourselves in a bloody shape for next year.

Pardew stumped by Swindon.

Forget the league now; enjoy the trip to Wembley; enjoy the wins we get before the end of the season; then everything HAS to be focussed on promotion next year. A good start next year is a must for AP or Dean Wilkins will be starting a stint as caretaker boss...