Sheaf Saint

So they stumbled through in the end, winning every game by a single goal despite being one of the standout favourite teams in the competition. They beat Uzbekistan in the final group game yesterday, although Maya was an unused sub. They have Saudi Arabia on Monday, and will play the winner of Iran v Oman in the qtr final next Thursday if they win that. Sounds like a punishing game schedule.

Hmmm. I'm not so sure we could expect to be mid-table by only fielding 10 players each week!

It's entirely consistent with this guy's posting history. I'm thinking he must be related to JWP in some way, because the way he constantly blows sunshine up his arse is quite embarrassing.

He may not be especially quick, but what he does have is a physical presence and strength to out-muscle defenders. He's tenacious too - makes driving runs and invites defenders to tackle him which will always draw fouls in dangerous positions. Even having only just come back from injury and being a long way from match fit, I would play him ahead of Austin right now.

There was a moment in the 2nd half last night where he got back to help out in defence and got possession in the RB position. He tried to make a run down the wing, and he looked like he was running through treacle. It was painful to watch. And then he fluffed it by messing up a simple infield pass. He's had plenty of chances now, and for me he has shown nothing to suggest he is ever going to improve. Another expensive flop who will no doubt hang around like a bad smell for the next few years. Thanks Les.

I can't believe (well actually, I can) that there are people on here writing off Gallagher on the basis of a 2nd half sub appearance in a disjointed and poor team after a long injury layoff. Just shows the mentality of this place sometimes. I counted three occasions where he got the ball in a good area and made a direct run at the defence. OK it didn't come off for him each time, but one of them drew a foul and a FK in a dangerous area. You can see he has pace and power, and his ball control is infinitely better than Long's. Having seen some of the goals he scored for Blackburn, he's obviously got a decent shot on him as well. Even on that showing I would have him ahead of Austin in the pecking order right now.

He can see that our second string team with 3 first teamers and a few kids is not good enough to beat a very good, well drilled and organised Championship team. I doubt he is overly worried about that TBH.

Meh. Annoying to blow a 2 goal lead yet again. If that was our first choice team out there tonight that let that slip then I would be fuming, but considering it was an inexperienced, makeshift side then Ralph obviously wasn't too bothered about winning it. Kudos to Derby though. Lamps has got them well organised and clearly has some tactical nous. They are a far more likeable team than the Derby that we lost out in the 2007 playoffs to.

Because he's resting players and doesn't have any other choice I guess. He clearly ain't getting anywhere near our PL first team.

Penalties it is then.

Looked like it from behind, but not from the other angle.

Good chance for Redmond but his first touch was poor.

You say that, but he still looks like he could break through their back line with a powerful run.

Another letoff

Cashed out for around 15x my stake at FT. I still have faith we will win.

Wasted that FK. Never going to score from there. Should have tried something a bit smarter.

I thought there was no added time in ET???

Let off there. Cross was a centimetre too high for Lawrence. Then we go and blow a good chance.

The 40/1 was for them to qualify. Fulltime result was much longer than that. And there is the second goal, right on cue. FFS.

I hope you all got your CIBs on at 2-0. I got 40/1.

Nugent on.

Taking nothing for granted after blowing a 2-0 lead in the first match.

Decent hit from Redmond but you expect any competent keeper to save that.

How can you give that handball when he was clearly barged into it? And Murphy completely ignored that on the replay.

Mo did the hard bit and made a good run, then completely fluffed a simple pass.