saintant

It was all fairly believable until I came to the bit which stated 'Sulemana controls the ball first time'

Assuming Macca leaves in the summer we need to sign a new number 1 keeper and demote Baz to second choice with Lumley as cover for injuries.

I also am a big fan of Brooks. He can do the unexpected which is a great asset. However, I think the crucial reason he is important is that he is a key cog in the wheel in terms of our style of play. By that I mean he links up so well with team mates and makes clever runs into pockets of space and floats about causing problems for our opponents and keep us very fluid. He doesn't just stick out on the wing he uses his brain to go where needed. His contribution to Che's second goal was superb and that's what he gives the team that nobody else does in my opinion. On the downside he is not great at tracking back but if he had no faults I guess he would be playing regularly for Bournemouth. He's a talent and great to watch.

Agree. Two incredibly tough games but if we could somehow beat them both we're reducing the ultimate number of points they can amass. They'll be equally nervous and will be concerned by the fact that we are currently in better form than they are.

Due to past history I develop a little paranoia whenever RM says 'Flynn Downes has a bit of a knock' because it could mean he misses this game plus a few more. We need him firing on all cylinders for the crucial last 4 games of the season so I'm crossing everything that it is just a minor knock and nothing to worry about.

It's highly unlikely that goal difference will count against us. If we gain enough points to overhaul Ipswich then it is almost certain we'll have overtaken their goal difference because we'll have won our final 4 games. If we drop any points we won't be going up unless via the play-offs. I'm fairly relaxed about the goal difference issue as I can't see it being a factor.

It's quite a simple equation now - win our 4 remaining games and, unless Ipswich win their 3 games, we are promoted automatically (Ipswich could equal our 96 points with 2 wins and a draw but if we get 4 wins it is highly probable our goal difference would be superior). It's obviously a very tough ask but confidence should be flowing after last night's performance and the other 3 teams seem to be extremely nervy right now. One game at a time so on to Cardiff and we all hope another massive effort from the team will result in a victory.

Well managed by RM, he gave Downes a rest and Charles slotted in well and got a useful 45 minutes under his belt. We controlled the second half and their keeper made 2 brilliant stops while Preston were easily kept at arms length aside from a brain fart between McCarthy and Manning. We didn't bust a gut which was sensible with key games coming thick and fast. Some terrific individual performances and a great boost for our confidence. Clean sheet for McCarthy! On to Cardiff and a win will really put pressure on the top 3. Just saying now that Baz not expected to play again this season.

Wow! 45 minutes of pass and move football of the highest quality. Not a weak link anywhere and we have run Preston ragged and scored 3 lovely goals plus Stu was very unlucky with his clever shot that hit the post. Hope we keep up the same tempo and look for more goals in the second half but that was quite a stunning first 45 minutes.

Achilles for Baz - that's him for the season.

McCarthy is not great with his feet - could be a worry. I'd probably prefer Lumley.

McCarthy in goal. Baz injured in warm up 🙂

I've always maintained the atmosphere depends a lot on the intensity of the start. Get out of the blocks and put them under pressure and the fans will respond. Play timid walking football and the atmosphere will be flat and it will be hard to up the tempo. It's down to RM to whip the players up before the game and send them out fired up. If he does that and players respond I think we'll win with reasonable comfort. If he doesn't it'll be tense, nervy and could end up in us dropping points and any chance we had will be gone. Must win if we are to keep alive any hope of automatic promotion.

Think Baz might save the second because those are the ones he can deal with. However, the first low to his left - no chance.

I totally agree on leaving Fraser or another player upfield for defensive corners. I suspect the stats show that teams concede less goals from corners with all ten outfield players back.

Possibly because he has always championed Baz so why would the club look for a better quality alternative?

If we can beat Preston it's on to Cardiff who have a mixed home record. Beat Cardiff and the then Leicester game next Tuesday becomes massive.

Probably not plus it would actually be a seven match winning streak because we've won our last 2 and have 5 to play.

The fact that we have to rack our brains to recall his decent saves speaks volumes. He should be pulling off great saves in most games.

To be a decent professional goalkeeper surely you have to demonstrate an elite ability to regularly make incredible saves that defy logic. We see this time and time again with keepers even in the Championship. Unfortunately we rarely, if ever see, it from Baz. A shot towards the corner is inevitably a goal. This often makes it hard to win matches and we drop points that we shouldn't. We've had a mixed bag of keepers but every one of them was capable of pulling off worldie saves on a fairly regular basis even if some let in too many howlers. Surely the coaches at the club can see the glaring weakness in Baz when it comes to saving the ball. He seems a great lad and has some attributes but shot-stopping is not one of them. Strange for a goalkeeper making his living at a high level.

Why are some claiming Downes handled the ball before scoring? I've watched replays and it seems clear to me that the ball brushes his chest before he bundles it home.

I totally agree with your rant about the lack of ingame management and RM not reacting to periods when we are under the cosh and have been banging on about this myself. If he was sensible enough to include this single aspect I feel we'd have been nailed-on for automatic promotion. It is a glaring tactical weakness.

We are still just about in the chase for automatics so it's going to be exciting. If we were totally outplaying sides I'd be a bit more confident about our chances but, with how we are scraping wins, it seems likely we'll not quite get over the line but at least it keeps the interest alive for another few games.

Not sure - looks as though it brushes off someone's head before Downes bundles it in.

Timed to perfection. Well done Russ. Is it back on?