Sounds like he's playing in the wrong position then. But those who were watching on here have described his performance as lazy, so not sure what job he was doing for the team. Supervisor perhaps...

Unfortunately we broke the streak of winning when we go a goal up against Sunderland. This is now I believe our third time losing points from a winning position. Losing when we go behind remains intact, in fact we've only even scored in one game from behind (Bristol at Ewood).

The Bristol games have been abberations this season. The first match is still, I believe, the only game we have scored a goal after going behind (and did it twice in the game at that, both times when two goals behind), and now this one is our first draw of the season, deep into January.

Eh? We went a goal up, not a goal down.

Sadly, I think what's going to happen is games we were winning before are going to turn into draws. I'll get excited when we draw (or better yet win) from behind.

I should have known today was the draw day, after my (non-Rovers-fan) friend asked me what the odds would be on us not drawing for the rest of the season. Definitely put the jinx on it there.

I know many like to say he's just gone back to being Brereton and that it was all just a purple patch, but for me he is distracted. I don't think he's the type to down tools, but that doesn't mean the prospect of a big move and loads more money isn't going to get into your head. He will be thinking about how everything he does looks to suitors, and the last thing you need in front of goal is to be thinking about anything else. Interesting you say since the West Ham game...I didn't see that, but I'm guessing you mean he played well in that too? A game against a Prem side where he played well would help the distractions peak I think...

It does feel like this could be the elusive first draw of the season...

I'm not watching, but I'd imagine the sensible move here would be to bring on Garrett or Travis for Buckley or Morton. 10 men, momentum against us, tired legs...need to be able to break up their play and kill time.

He didn't, took him off for Carter after the red.

Ayala basically confirming that the collapse will happen. Also the ban means we'll be fielding Wharton and Carter presumably next match?

I didn't say it was anything to do with the manager.

Did you mean you wonder if?

Bit of a problem this, we used to control games easily once we were ahead. Since the first time we collapsed from a leading position (Sunderland I think?) we just haven't been the same when leading. I could live with never coming back from behind when we always won when ahead, but now we've lost that aura of invincibility when leading, and still haven't put the never recovering thing to bed, we could have an issue. Only kept the lead here for 14 minutes.

You're faster than livescore.com Chaddy.

Not gonna lie...I'd take it.

Whereas I'm sure I don't understand the focus on Vale.

I mean, mine was just an analogy, I've never touched those drugs...do you need an intervention?

Maybe, but I'm still getting cravings. I feel like somebody who used to do coke, but now the dealer only has crack, and I hate it but I still keep going back as I'm hooked now. So the (deleted) post still stands.

That's more of a statement on how bad the refs are in this league though.

Yep. Felt we should have signed him when we sold Rhodes.

If anybody knows anything about watching this game without being in Bristol, I'd be amenable to a DM...

Combining your two posts, I'd say it's more like it's becoming a big part of the equation. As he said, we were converting at an unsustainable rate, and we have stopped sustaining it.

Pretty sure the player actually was Bulgarian. I think the time they put in was close to 10 seconds, so about half a second slower than Usain, but quicker than anyone you're likely to find in football! But yep the papers ran with it, I think even Sky quoted the running time. I thought it was Ivelin Popov, but I could be misremembering.

Well, not wherever he's been. 0 goals for Brighton. Had a season (2018/19) in the third German tier where he scored 6 in 35. Until 2020/21 season he played his whole career in the third German tier or below. Mostly below. In leagues of any note, he basically has two and a half seasons, where yes he has been about 1 in 2. The Belgian league is a mixed bag of teams though, some are trash, some play regular CL and would likely woop us. The 0 for Brighton comes from just 8 games and the Prem can be a tough nut to crack. Hopefully the Championship is the right level for him to get back on the goal trail. Can't see what Brighton would gain by sending him to Belgium again, he can't achieve anything there they haven't seen. Surely better to try and get him scoring in England. Sounds like this one will happen.