trousers

Nah... Couldn't see it mentioned anywhere before....

So, there we were at the turn of the year... Unbeaten run intact and slowly but surely reeling in those above us (to the point where we had reached 2nd place and automatic promotion was in our own hands)... and then a series of events that, on their own would have had little impact but, when combined, have led to our downfall...? - January transfer window... Decent acquisitions but gave Martin selection headaches leading to more squad rotation and less consistency - Stephens and Sulemana returning from long injury layoffs, which also added to the squad selection dilemma - Downes injury coinciding with 3 'unexpected' defeats in February versus Hull, Millwall and Bristol City - distraction of our FA Cup run... replay vs Watford and midweek away at Anfield leading to fixture congestion - Wilcox quitting... Must have caused some unrest behind the scenes, surely? - the unbeaten run becoming a millstone around our necks as we ended up being content with draws in order to achieve a new club record? February? The 'Perfect Storm'...? Or....in homage to Russell Martin, am I overthinking things here and all it really boils down to is not having a clinical striker nor a defence that can concentrate for 90 minutes....?! 🙂

Yep, starting to lose count of the games where we were the better team for the majority of the game yet come away with less than 3 points. I was really impressed with our first half performance but there's always that nagging doubt that it's not going to be enough cometh the end of the match.

That didn't help, of course, but we still had things in our own hands despite that. Dropping 4 points over easter is the final nail in the coffin.

That very dim candle has been snuffed out this evening

Season over

10 minutes to keep our slim automatic promotion hopes alive...

Here comes super sub Rothwell.... That means goals, goals, goals....

We made that far too easy... Zero marking and/or closing down on the edge of our own box. Schoolboy stuff.

Cock

3 Ipswich subs... Does Russ stick or twist...?

Because it's the kind of chance that Fraser usually buries...

Had to do better there!

I know I'm sounding like a scratched record but the timing of our 2nd half subs will be crucial. I think Russ is one of those managers that sometimes likes to make subs because they can rather than because we need to. Keep this 11 going for as long as possible IMO

Half time. We've looked like a well oiled machine so far. Hope we can hold off 2nd half subs until it's absolutely necessary.

Another good effort from Arma

Yep... Here's hoping Russell doesn't start tinkering with subs for the sake of it too early in the first half.

Downes picked up a knock... Hopefully can run it off...

Fraser was just offside there . Lino probably wouldn't have flagged though

Ever the optimist.... 😁

Far far too early to take the lead though....

Yay!

In the build up to their goal, half the team realised we didn't have any right back cover and were pointing and screaming over in that direction... Yet no-one seemed arsed to do anything about it.

Hit it first time Aribo FFS!

So, who has 4-4 in the sweepstake?