OK before we start with all the football nonsense can I just say what a good day Saturday was. The sun came out, I did a spot of birding at my sister’s (postcode wilds of wanny) then had a lovely pint at Frosterly as they rang the bells in the outhouse (quintessentially English, totally pointless, absolutely wonderful) then watched England win a game of rugby. Nice night out in Darlo, then an early start to Lancaster, thank the Lord for Wetherspoons. Once we’d done the early beer there, there was just time for a swifty at the Borough before Eastlands and the draconian policing...

Fulop
Bardsely Ferdy Collins McCartney
Steed Leadbitter Whitehead Edwards Murphy
Jones

As was to be expected, there was only Jones up front, and it looked to be going reasonably to plan until the ref decided that McCartney had farted in the vicinity of Robinho and thus deserved to be sent off. I’m sorry if I sound repetitively upset with matchday officials, but this fella was different class. If George did pull his opponent’s shirt, then fair enough, but in today’s game the officials need to take a real good look at themselves. Once he’d got rid of George, he tried his best to spoil my day by blowing in City’s favour at every opportunity. When the penalty came courtesy of another soft choice, the world’s most expensive pillock rolled the ball to Fulop, which was nice of him. No more than we deserved, and no more than they deserved. By this time, Murphy had made way for Davenport as we re-arranged to defend, and to be fair we defended well. There looked to be little chance of City scoring despite their numerous efforts, as we got bodies behind the ball and moved it well when we got hold of it, so it was sort of happy days in the away end by half time.

With a man down, it was always hard work but it was hard work that we did well,. Until ten minutes in, that is and England’s second most over-rated defender (after S. Talyor) got in the header that counted. The remaining thirty minutes gave the ref more time to show why making his sort professional has been a complete waste of time, as he repeatedly pointed the wrong way and generally made an arse of himself. Overall, we put in a good shift. Leadbitter and Whitehead did the business in the middle and Edwards kept in stretched, while Jones worked well up front. When Cisse came on, he generally did the right thing, although there were a couple of flicks to an imaginary partner. Reid likewise was given the chance to strut his stuff, but couldn’t quite find his target.

Another away day defeat, but the other results (mostly yesterday and mostly the mags and Boro) mean that the brown sticky stuff is still a little bit away.

It does make you wonder when we’ll get an official who gives all of he decisions to us. Or am I just a sad deluded individual who believes that the world is against us? A truly piss-poor showing from someone earning a grand a week.

Man of the Match?

Dean Whitehead. Ran his socks of as if to make up for his not so clever comments last weekend.

Sobs' Book click here...