Just business as usual with a smiley face. For me a totally inappropriate response. That result will be stain on his record for ever just like the 7-0 will be a stain on Mowbray’s record. He obviously hasn’t realised that and we’ve nobody at the club that is going to tell him.

That sums up my feelings really. I used to be buzzing before a World Cup but this time I can’t get excited about it at all. If you ever needed proof that the game is bent this is it.

Me too. I was optimistic until I saw the game against Hudds, especially the second half. I thought then if we give Burnley the same amount of ball in our half as we have given Hudds today we’ll get murdered. They pressed us right back and we were just clearing it anywhere at the end. Then we had the West Ham game were we managed a great draw after 90 minutes, coming back late on in the game and going on to win the shoot out. I was hoping that we’d come out with the West Ham game mindset but we came out with the Hudds mindset and paid the price for that. It’s too early to call for JDT’s head but at a normal club, which we aren’t, he would have been brought into the boardroom after that game and told that the performance was completely unacceptable, that the away form is a major cause for concern, as is our complete inability to respond to going behind in games. He would have been told in no uncertain terms that things must improve. However, being who we are, absolutely nothing will happen.

We could have done with the players manning up a bit yesterday.

Not me if I can help it. That’s Mrs Shoelaces department.

Yes but 99% of them didn’t phone in a “ performance “ in their second biggest game of the season.

I’ll be honest with you. I expected us to be further down the league but I expected the standard of football on show to be better.

You be must forgetting the time we came second to back into this league. Not a play off position though is it ? Am I teaching you some history ?

I get that. What I don’t get is their complete lack of self awareness. If I’d have played like that in such an important game I’d shut the fuck up for a couple of weeks at least.

Compare that with our xG 0 yesterday.

How do you think that will go down with the poor bastards who are having to decide wether to put food on the table or put the heating on or maybe treat their kids to a trip to Ewood over Xmas ? I was thinking of taking my grandson to a game. It can wait now.

Exactly, seeing that after yesterday ? How many season tickets do you reckon that will sell ?

I can accept being out skilled but I’ll never accept us being out enthused. That’s what happened yesterday. And for players posting holiday snaps after that ! Have they no shame ? I was at the 3-0 defeat back in 1963. Travelled over from Rochdale on my own as a 14 year old on a “ Ellen Smith’s “ coach full of dingles. I had more balls at 14 than some of the “ men “ wearing the shirt yesterday. It was anybodies game until a young Mike England got tired of Andy Lochead’s constant fouling and planted him. He learnt from that, let’s hope we do. Lochead was the Ashley Barnes of his day but more obvious.

10/10

Bravery comes in several forms out on the pitch. Berkovic wasn’t a tackler but you could give him the ball in any situation and he’d make good use of it. Two players up his backside, he’d still show for the ball. That sort of bravery is sadly lacking in this team.

I’m like you, I didn’t expect a win. However I expected us to make a game of it and I expected us to have more than one shot at goal !

Yeah, join in with the other donkeys.

I didn’t like Mowbray but I must admit I think he would have done a better job yesterday.

That’s the problem - who is holding anybody to account ? What do you think Jack would have done after that result ? I’d say JDT would be told in no uncertain terms that the return fixture must be won, or else.

I wouldn’t say that. They were all over us like a rash in that last 30 minutes. I said after the game that if we play like that against the dingles we’ll be hiding behind the sofa. So we did, and we were. If you’re going to try the ” Rope a Dope “ game plan it’s important that you’re actually playing a dope.

That was up there with the Wigan relegation game for me. However at least we tried a bit in that game.

I’d have that photo blown up life size and plastered all around the dressing room walls before the home game in March. If that doesn’t motivate them nothing will. I learnt a long time ago as a player you never give your opponents anything to work on if you can avoid it.

Yeah, Ashley Barnes, that well known pigeon catcher.

Mowbray with a smile. I don’t see the point of these interviews. It’s very rare that the person involved is open and honest. The lack of bravery shouldn’t have come as a surprise, it didn’t surprise me.

If it was me or you it would. However they’ll be too busy sorting out their up coming holiday. This trip to Marbella should be cancelled, what other walk of life rewards failure ?