Lallana's Left Peg

While I agree that Peterborough do have some hard games remaining, can we please not forget that we have to go to Leyton Orient, Brighton, and Charlton ourselves. It will be very tight.

Looking at our fixtures like that makes me feel quite positive about second, mainly because of our defensive record.

Richardson always appeared tenacious and quick but Butterfield is much better with the ball. If Chamberlain is to be starting at right-midfield then I'm a bit happier with Butterfield playing there because he'll get the ball to him properly. When Chamberlain isn't playing right-midfield I don't care who plays right-back since all they will do is hump a long diagonal to Lambert anyway.

It doesn't matter but people are interested in positioning their club against others, particularly rivals, so I can see why people discuss it. The subject was interesting enough for you to give your thoughts, even if it was to declare you don't care, so there is at least merit to discussing it.

It's all getting very tense. Peoples perspective of where we'll end up seems to be quite fluid and seems to change game after game. We're right in the thick of it with a great opportunity but I'm a little cautious as the team could be playing better so never quite sure what to expect. But I am still positive about it all as to be where we are while not playing brilliantly for the past month is an opportunity. This is of course assuming we'll play better and there aren't bigger issues at hand. 2-0 win on Tuesday for me, even if the performance isn't there the momentum will be for Bournemouth away in a week!

There is a shred of truth to this but the players we have should be good enough to carry us out of this division, even if they do not meet expectations at times. We've seen how they can perform against teams in a higher division, it's just grinding our results and nous at this level where we suffer at times. Take the rough with the smooth.

Then at the end of the season if we do not finish 2nd we can say what cost us promotion was not being efficient enough in front of goal. End of story. What is the problem?

At the end of the day if you don't put the ball in the back of the net you don't 'deserve' to win based on any other aspect of your play, but you can consider yourself unlucky if you are the better team, the more dominant team, and you not scoring had an element of bad luck to it (such as deflections of goalbound shots going straight into the keepers chest and so on). 46 games is more than enough for one-off unlucky games and incidents to be cancelled out over the course of the season. If Saints pip any other team to 2nd it will be because we deserved it. Anyone suggesting otherwise clearly doesn't understand why a league format exists. I do not believe we deserved to win on Tuesday night, but I do consider ourselves to be very unlucky not to win.

I think too many people believe we need to play really well in order to go up. We don't. We just need to do enough and I don't see how promotion isn't attainable or realistic after last night. I can understand people being frustrated with the level of consistency shown by the team, but lets face it - we have some talented players, if they were consistent as well they would not be plying their trade with us at this level. I can also understand the anxiety some people show but I guarantee that those who let it manifest into negativity aren't doing themselves a favour. Adkins needs to remain positive and is. The players need to remain positive and they are. Lets hope our fans are and get behind the team instead of moaning. Last night was not the end of the world. We are still in the thick of this and sometimes I get the feeling some people would be disappointed to see us go up!

What is to be worried about? If we took half our chances tonight and won by 4 would you be saying that? It really is that much of a fine line. At times our play was not fluid, we looked to play it long a bit too much, but at the end of the day a few of the deflections going our way and that fat lump in their goal not being in the right place at the right time and everyone is happy. Lets not over-react here. Lets worry if we go to Walsall and create nothing. We created a lot.

Just back from the game. If we took half our chances tonight we'd have scored more than we did at Oldham. Walsall, one chance, one goal. We didn't even play that well. But every time we went forward we were dangerous. These things happen, we shouldn't be too downbeat despite what some of our mong supporters will now say. Not play well and create 10+ goalscoring opportunities? I'll take that every week. Sometimes we'll score 6 from about 8 chances as we did at Oldham, and sometimes we'll have nights like tonight. Not worried at all.

It happens - it's hard and rare to control a game for 100% of the time. Very few teams in the world are capable of it. I'm very happy with the way we reacted to their equaliser and the way the game was seen out, which is professional of the Manager and players.

From the official website:

No excuses with this game, Swindon are dire, out of form, and there for the taking. I expect a two or three goal margin of victory and a good performance as well.

4-4-2 or a diamond?

I live in Manchester which is 30mins away from Rochdale and while we've had rain I cannot believe the impact it has had on their pitch. My Sunday League pitch can take much more rain that this and still be playable! May be a blessing in disguise as they are in good form and depending on when the game is rescheduled I may well fancy our chances a bit more. Plus lets not forget we've got Hartlepool on Tuesday which now becomes more appealing as they play today while we get to rest.

Would have taken the draw before the game, disappointed to lead two goal leads slip twice, but not disheartened in any way. The state of my heart watching that match has only been matched in recent years by the second-leg of the playoff game away to Derby.

Great effort, very proud. Onwards and upwards!

Wenger tonight after the game on AOC:

If he is going and isn't returning on loan, then I can't stress enough how disappointed I'll be if a few players don't arrive within a few days. The speculation is rife and the club must know bids are imminent. Even if they don't want him to leave there is always the chance he will ask to go. We should be succession planning right now and making enquiries accordingly. Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving is disappointing but understandable. To not have replacements lined up is criminal from the club.

If we need someone to help us retain possession, then Dale Jennings isn't our man. He gave the ball away far too much today, particularly in the second half, through silly flicks and blind passes.

Just back from the game. Two long ball teams, a terrible game. We offered nothing, Tranmere had 5 in midfield and one of them was just in front of the back 4 helping head away every hopeless punt from us. When we passed it we looked half decent. We rarely passed it. Harding and Richardson were also very bad. I blame both Fonte and Davis for the first goal. Fonte for calling for the keeper to come (the keeper should always decide) and Davis for not deciding to come - the ball was high in the air and landing in the 6 yard box - what exactly did Davis expect to happen!

Just back from the game. Two long ball teams, a terrible game. We offered nothing, Tranmere had 5 in midfield and one of them was just in front of the back 4 helping head away every hopeless punt from us. When we passed it we looked half decent. We rarely passed it. Harding and Richardson were also very bad. I blame both Fonte and Davis for the first goal. Fonte for calling for the keeper to come (the keeper should always decide) and Davis for not deciding to come - the ball was high in the air and landing in the 6 yard box - what exactly did Davis expect to happen!

That is a relief.

Credit to him!