I find it interesting that Edun, Brittain, Garrett, Scott Wharton and Dolan have all started this afternoon for the under 21s but not a.wharton

But the ref looks like he's about to book him then changes his mind. Presumably he's bottled it

Don't think this has been emphasised enough but how did Robinson evade a 2nd yellow for his tackle on Hedges?

I've had a bit of time to process what was a cracking cup tie and watch the highlights. I personally would defend JDTs tactical switch. I felt something was coming and we were already starting to fall back too deep. We had in my eyes run ourselves out a bit. My only gripe was perhaps dolan could've come on for either Diaz or gally after 70 mins. They had another striker on, I felt we could benefit from a more orthodox right back/wing back and the extra cb made sense to me at the time. Brittain and Wharton did however look rusty when they came on Obviously their 2nd is what's done us really and tbh I felt it was more due to individual error than anything else. I counted 5 players who should've done better for it. Brittain on the initial ball in, Carter shouldn't get turned, Travis mightve nicked it once he's turned him. Hyam could block it and Pears could save it. No horrendous error but each one could've done a little better on it. Just my opinion but I can see why some are disappointed with the goal coming so close to the changes. Watching the highlights, the penalty is really obvious and im not sure how he's escaped further punishment. Gally really messed up for their 1st. Terrible header and the deflection felt avoidable. I just hope we take positives from it because there's no reason why we still can't make it to Wembley. Aim now is cement 4th or 5th place I'd prefer to avoid boro and sheff utd over 2 legs but I think we could take either on the day in a final.

In this theoretical It's tough. If you guaranteed we'd finish 4th or 5th and not have to face boro and Stoke I'd take playoffs because then I think we'd have a great chance against whoever else. I think Wembley for a playoff final would trump a nice day out at Wembley to get beat by city or united. Saying that there's obviously no reason we can't do both.

For at least one of those goals Pickering is about 1 yard away from Hyam. He isn't marking anyone, there was no need for him to be that far across. He leaves a huge space for their fullback to attack into. I'm not sure their fullback would've made the run if that space didn't exist. On Dolan for one he loses concentration and the fullback puts the burners on and he can't get back at him and the second he tracks him but not very well, gets the wrong side and allows the fullback to loose him.

I still think we need to try Brereton up front. I thought Gally was exceptionally poor last night. He at least scored late on (but he shouldered it). JRC and Dolan were very poor last night also but have been brilliant the last few games. So calls to drop them feel premature. What doesn't help JRC is he has Brittain breathing down his neck who I really rate and is a more orthodox full back. Could JRC be the cm who takes the ball off the back 4? I'd also leave dolan in and bring Brereton in up front.

I don't think Brittain did a lot wrong for that goal. They'd beaten the press and we were massively stretched. I felt Carter needed to come across sooner and help block him coming inside.

I don't think he was in place for the summer transfer window.

I still think BBD in for gally up top if it happens could kick us up to another level. Gally stays for stoke as he's earned it with his last 3 performances. Really led the line in the last 2 which we'd been crying out for him to do and poached some goals at qpr which he doesn't do often enough.

Don't sit back here. Keep doing what we've been doing because we've been excellent.

I think with the fixture pile up and the abundance of hamstring injuries going around I think it might be wise to rotate a little bit here. Will be interesting to see if the likes of garrett, Vale and Phillips are given a chance. Think it might be a good time to use the 5 at the back.

Teesside Taffarel JRC. Carter. Hyam. Brittain Travis. Buckley Thomas. Szmodics. Dolan Hedges Subs: Hilton, Phillips, Edun, Morton, A Wharton, Gallagher, Leonard Diaz up front if fit.

The squads pretty stretched right now. Not sure who else could've played. I can think of: Hilton Edun Adam Wharton Phillips Garrett Harlock Vale Maybe Hedges? Maybe Morton?

Another clean sheet for the teesside taffarel.

Up front this is what I'd try in this order: 1) Brereton up front 2) Hedges 3) Leonard (probably off the bench initially) 4) Dolan 5) Szmodics 6) Vale again 7) Ayala 8 ) literally anyone else 9) Gallagher

Think you've got a typo in there. Looks like you've typed Gallagher into that first 11 when it should say literally anything else.

We are 7th. Level on points with 5th. 1 point off 4th. And I don't think this squad is much better than that. I think with what he's got to work with JDT is doing a good job. He's been shafted in January as this side really lacks quality up top. We may be an incredibly boring watch at times but we are at least solid.

Pears JRC. Carter. Hyam Pickering Travis. Buckley Thomas. Dack. Hedges Dolan Subs: Hilton, Wharton, Brittain, Morton, Szmodics, Brereton, Vale Or Pears Carter. Hyam. Wharton Jrc. Travis. Buckley. Brittain Dack Dolan. Brereton

As long as Gally doesn't start I'm happy

What are your thoughts on Leonard. Ready for 1st team involvement?

Lot of debate whether Vale can ever make the grade here and that's a fair conversation. However what isn't in debate is he isn't good enough for what we need right now. Neither is Gally. For me the one option we haven't tried is Brereton-Diaz through the middle. He does it for Chile at times, he's got a lot of the attributes to do it, he's leaving anyway so doesn't particularly matter if he'd rather play on the left, allows us to get Thomas into the team. That's what I'd do anyway

On a contract until the end of the season I think it could be worth a go. He can hold the ball up at least. If not then surely we have to try Diaz through the middle

Keep an eye out for players having there contracts terminated. They can still sign for other clubs

Still not a striker but... To fill that centre mid slot that's about as good as we can hope for.