Gloucester Saint

Harwood-Bellend digging Jack and Tonda out of a hole.

Jack nearly causing 2-0 ball-watching. Tonda - grow a pair of bollocks, stand up to that Danish prick and get Stephens off.

Got away with that twice - but not the third time. 1-0. The player we were linked with too. Dreadful defending and midfield play. Stephens very poor header. Hard one at first glance for Baz as a lot of players in his vision.

Azaz should work the keeper there - instead an SUV has a smashed windscreen. Probably one of those Kia white fridges on wheels.

Better - nice play from Jandar creating space, decent ball but not getting the numbers in to attack.

Seen worse, there’s some semblance of movement with the passing unlike the last two ganes, but lacking a change of pace/bit of innovation.

Ah the days when Ford used to name models after porn mags eg Escort.

Downes slices one into the car park.

Was a fk there though.

Nearly in, initial reaction was not a penalty.

Spencer booked for clothes-lining AA on the counter

Really is a case of overmanning.

Correctly - awful high foot straight into the head. Could have been a second yellow but misses playing us regardless.

Wasted that opportunity to get a cross in.

Derby down to 10 although leading 1-0. Agyemang scoring again on a rapid counter. How the heck he got signed from Minnesota for less than Damian Downs beggars belief. Derby clearly actually watched him live a few times.

Outside of Rasmus Ankerson and the board I don’t think most people at the club do either. Tonda’s clearly been told to play him but I think that’s as much about McCarthy slowing up as protecting Bazunu’s ‘value’. Judging by the flurry of keeper rumours this month and Gavin finishing 24th in the divisional performance stats yet again, it’s an area there will be movement in. My sense is that Gavin will be offered an extension as cover - #2 or #3 (more likely) on much-reduced wages to an incoming #1 on buy-now, pay later deal (eg loan with mandatory option in July so the club can get Alex and Ramsdale off the wage bill). Whether he accepts that, sees out his final year and hopes that the #1 gets long-term injured and he suddenly starts looking like a goalkeeper and not an emergency outfield player remains to be seen.

Controversial view, but IMHO Root is only world class in England and Asia eg India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. In Australia, he’s always looked vulnerable to bounce on 5th stump to steepling deliveries best left alone and has never entirely convinced me in SA either. Similar to David Warner who was also world class in certain conditions favouring him but struggled in others.

You knew when Duckett was in by the empties at his end. Bowling much better lengths but the bowlers don’t have a chance when the batting has all the fibre of wet toilet tissue. Yes it’s a green seamer but techniques are terrible. England need a new top 3 and Bethell is more Root’s longer term replacement. Unfair to expect him to turn up and perform - needs a full season of red ball for Warwick’s and some 100s and time in the middle under those sort of surfaces under his belt. Jordan Cox, McKinnie, and Haines probably replacing the hapless Duckett, Crawley and Pope in the summer. I don’t believe those top three are consistently Test quality against the best quicks, NZ and Pakistan attacks are high quality next summer as well. Jamie Smith competing against Cox and Rew for his place. Up to Duckett, Crawley and Pope to score 1500-2000 runs for their counties next summer and prove me wrong.

MLT special v Wimbledon Boxing Day 1994 Beating Chelsea 3-1 and Frankie Bennett’s only goal Matt Oakley 30 yard rocket 1st or 2nd minute v Palace in a 2-0 win. Didn’t we beat Spurs with Hoddle in charge 1-0 first season at SMS, very low and strong sun all game?

If he has a pair, wouldn’t mind borrowing them and chucking all of the unsold and gone off Christmas veg at Brendon McCullum and Rob Key after the Ashes has finished.

BTOOR - By the Orders of Rasmus

Free Speech my arse, it’s censorship of views they don’t agree with. No better than Russia or China. The US is on the brink of not being a democracy https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp39kngz008o

Was in Malham during October for a short break. The Dales road you really don’t want to do in any motor home is Park Rash going into Kettlewell from Coverdale. 25%+ and a couple of very sharp hairpins where your bonnet disappears…

Cheer up though lads, a Reform voter is coming home 😉https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgke51rzpvro

Although it stops for a couple of days, the World Championship Darts I enjoy at this time of year.