Next season's transfer window will speak volumes about the owners' intentions. Despite what some people on here think of TM, he was successful in getting us back to the Championship at the first time of asking, and has been close to the playoff spots in the last 2 seasons. Our squad is not really good enough for promotion. The fact that Mowbray has managed to keep us in the fight for a playoff spot is testament to not just his hard work, but the work of all our backroom staff and players themselves. If we are serious about getting promoted, this backroom team and this crop of young players need to be supported by significant investment, and we need to bring in some real quality players next season to go for a promotion push.

I agree, he has done well since Cunningham's injury. I think we need a better first choice, but we also need someone for competition and we won't find someone better. Bell already knows the club and how we play.

I switched off the game after Bennett brought their man down for the 3rd. Absolutely shocking performance on so many levels. The centreback partnership of Nyambe and Tosin looked in complete disarray. Bennett was awful and full of mistakes, summed up by the penalty he gave away. Brereton put in a disgusting performance - his “attempts” at winning headers in the second half followed by a cheap dive has made me lose all faith in him. Not to mention his shocking misses in the first half. I’ve never seen a lazier performance in my life. Armstrong was largely anonymous all game. Downing and Rothwell were the only 2 who made any real effort to make something happen, but struggled with poor passing. Bell and Walton the only 2 players who came away with any credit last night. Mowbray entirely to blame for the result. He gambled on an attacking lineup and essentially gave free roles to Rothwell, Downing, Brereton, Gallagher and Armstrong. The shape of the team was in complete disarray as a result. It seemed to work early on with us disorienting Derby and getting into spaces to have good chances, but after those chances weren’t put away we got seriously punished and never recovered. I don’t know if I can fault him for taking the gamble because we didn’t have that much to lose, but it didn’t pay off and he has to take the blame. Can’t wait for Lenihan to be back next week.

Overrun in midfield. Mowbray clearly gambled here with his match plan and that gamble hasn't paid off. Brereton, Gallagher, Rothwell - all useless. Travis is on his own in midfield, with the rest just running around like headless chickens around him. Can't fault Walton - made some good saves, but is not being helped by the team.

Am I watching a football match or a Benny Hill episode?

Doesn't bode well. We missed too many early chances and now conceded one. We've gone really attacking and if we don't start putting chances away, we're going to get punished again.

It looks like all our midfielders and forwards have essentially been given a free role ..

Good start so far, but finishing needs to be better. Looks like a 4-3-3 to me with Brereton and Gallagher playing on either side of Armstrong. Really going for it today clearly!

How did Brereton not score that...

What's wrong with Rothwell starting?

Is this the day we finally see a Brero goal? Feeling more confident about this one than Swansea and Stoke for some reason. I think they'll not be 100% both mentally and physically after a heavy loss to United in the FA Cup in mid-week. Their best player (Tom Lawrence) may miss out as well. Going for a 2-1 win for us.

Actually if you look at the teams in the top 10, all of them have goals spread out among the team, with the exception of 1 or 2 clubs. So we're not exactly special in that regard, although obviously it's a good thing that the goals are shared around the team. I think where our problem lies is the fact that Gallagher is our 3rd highest goalscorer this season despite not exactly pulling up trees. Our 2nd highest goalscorer (Dack) is injured until December, and our other highest goal contributors are our oldest players (Downing, Bennett, Graham). So that doesn't bode well for next season. It also means that our main goal contributions are coming from players that are either past it, long-term injured or in inconsistent form. That to me highlights the inconsistencies of this season and why we are on the verge of a playoff spot but probably won't get it in the end. Other than Armstrong, no one has really consistently performed in terms of goal contribution. Defensively, if we had a back 5 next season of Cunningham, Lenihan, Tosin, Nyambe & Walton I would be more than happy. Unlikely to happen unfortunately - due to Cunningham's injury & Walton/Tosin being too costly - but that back 5 would be good enough to get promoted. Next season a major revamp is required in both attack and defence, and our existing players like Gallagher and Rothwell really need to step up their game and contribute. I'm not confident we can challenge for promotion until I see how we go with recruitment.

The referee has absolutely ruined the game IMO. That along with all the Swansea playacting. No idea why Mowbray brought Graham on instead of Rothwell. Replacing our most creative player with an ageing striker who has done nothing in months is just dimwitted. Brereton, Gallagher and Nyambe the only bright spots in this game.

Think this might end up 3-2. There's definitely more goals in the game with both sides having poor back fours. Ayew looks well up for it today. Hoilett helping us in the Brentford game, score 2-2 there now at half time. Could use the help of another former player in the Bristol game now as well!

1-1. Bennett asleep for that one.

This referee has been a joke. How was that not a penalty? Gallagher got hacked down from behind by the Swansea player.

Dreadful first 10 mins. Swansea should be down to 10 men but the ref bottled the decision.

Probably speaks of the high standard he's set for himself! He's seeing a lot of possession, but just not created much with it IMO.

Looking a little bit better this half. Downing has had one of his poorest games for us today and Johnson looks too nervous for my liking. Either of the 2 or both could come off. Bell also has had a poor game.

Stoke look poor, we need to be winning this. Not sure why people think Gallagher is out wide. It looks more like a 4-4-2, very narrow diamond formation with Gallagher playing on the right of that 2, so occasionally he's drifting out wide. Nyambe/Bell look to be the only players actually playing on either flank.

The next 2 games will not be easy. Stoke and Swansea were in the PL 2 seasons ago and they still have some of those PL quality players. They’ve both been underperforming but the playing talent is still there. If Rothwell is back that will be a massive boost to the team. We lack a bit of creativity in midfield at the moment. If we do manage to win the next 2 games I will start to believe!

Early on in the season I thought he was going to be a bit of a dud, but his performances in 2020 have been absolutely excellent and I would rather we bought him in the summer than go chasing some unknown keeper. He has all the attributes to be a success and has age on his side as well.

Alright Walton has convinced me today. Give the man a contract...

Hahaha what did I say! Raya gives away a penalty! Let's finish this off now boys...

Who knows where he's playing? He looks to have a free role. He's popped up in the centre, left and right so far in this half.