Suppose you could look at xG I guess as one way of doing that but I wouldn't have the data to see who assisted each chance, not sure if that's even available anywhere. I guess top level, we rank towards the bottom of the table (maybe even bottom) for xG and chances created overall as a team and Morton / Buckley / Travis are the 3 CMs who have played the most minutes (not creating much). We're scoring more goals than what our play and chances created suggests we should....so not sure the blame is on the strikers finishing (though I agree you also add in movement and involvement themselves).

Disregarding any actual use of our eyes Wharton 1G and 1A in 498 minutes in the league (6 starts and 1 full match) Morton 2A in 2209 minutes in the league (24 starts and 18 full matches) Buckley 1A in 1227 minutes in the league (14 starts and 9 full matches) This is just Chaddy being Chaddy. Morton and Buckley have been absolutely horrendous all season, it's not even up for debate. 3 assists between the two of them and 0 goals across a combined 3,436 minutes (equivalent of 38 matches) Adam Wharton should be the first centre midfielder on our team sheet when fit until performances state otherwise.

If we do win on Saturday, we'll be on 55 points from 34 games, the exact same as last year (albeit way worse goal difference). Match 34 last year, we lost 1-0 to Sheffield United after the red card and Khadra(?) missed penalty (we won 2 of the next 10 after that!) With a more solid foundation and JDT, you'd have to fancy us to not fall apart as much as last year. Win on Saturday and I can't see those last 2 games of the season being dead rubbers (Home to Luton, Away to Millwall) We were on 55 points from 34, only won 2 of the next 10 then still had a chance going into Bournemouth and Birmingham (our final 2). Looking back I think it's a toss up between Sheffiled United away and Coventry away that made me feel most sick last year.

Looked good against Birmingham too (goal) and Hull (lovely assist)....he has only started 6 league games this season and that's half of them listed where he's been one of the best players on the pitch, so pretty hard to find consistency with so few starts, but he has looked better than everyone else we've been served up in CM this year based on those 6 matches alone (Bristol City the only real stinker). For me, it's a simple solution, play the two of them together! O'Brien and Wharton in the centre. (All hypothetical as there is absolutely no chance we end up getting O'Brien)

Thread on the Sunderland site...love it.

Yeah! When I watched it back I couldn't actually see Thomas as he was glued to the touchline (so good to have that sort of output now with a proper winger), so maybe they thought he just launched it out of play.

Was it JRC who pinged the cross field pass to Thomas with the outside of his boot in the build up to the goal? Maybe he fancies that CM role!

Missed the game tonight due to other commitments but it feels like a big win in the big picture. Back in the top 6, multiple big defensive displays, we look like a good solid outfit now. Saturday is very winable, and I think 3 points there will get everyone on this board believing. This team looks less likely to bottle it than prior years! Glad to hear Szmodics had a good game, I imagine he’ll have a run now so we want him in form and fit. Can’t comment on players really given I didn’t watch, but what a fantastic set of results recently. Well done JDT and all.

Have I missed something Lenihan has said?

Assuming no Dack or Brereton: Pears Brittain Carter Hyam Pickering JRC Travis Buckley Thomas Dolan Hedges Switch to 433, rest Ayala as he was only back on Saturday and played the full 90. Adam Wharton in for Buckley if fit but I assume not. No Gallagher.

EFL: “We are at fault, we were wrong, we are not fit for purpose” Yeah, that’s not happening Chadster.

Haha, that first half was bad. But it wasn’t Bradley Johnson false 9 thank god!

If true (big if). Fair fucks to Lewis Travis for getting a reaction like that, and good management from JDT

Yeah completely agree, can remember 2 examples of it today. Really pleasantly surprised and although it’s only been a few games I guess a lesson for us around judging small sample of appearances. (though I do think he had that Boro / Mowbray / Friends son link thing going on which always felt dodgy)

Too right Chaddy. Great day. 3 points at Blackpool and getting into the FA cup quarters to look forward to this month still too!

His distribution has impressed me too. Keeps his place unless anything drastically changes for me. Edit: JohnD beat me to it above!

Yeah agree completely with the sentiment of the 2nd half. I just don’t believe it was a tactical double bluff to play like that in the first half. (Also agree about Martin) Either way, 3 points, puts us in a great position for Blackpool! We can all get behind that.

Listen I’m delighted with how we performed 2nd half, thought we were really good. But that’s total nonsense.

Interesting tactic, play shit for a half to lure a team into thinking you’re shit?

Yep - really bizarre argument. If it was right not to start him then he’s still done a hamstring so was hardly right bringing him on.

COYB! Absolutely buzzing, great result and given Norwich and Sunderland drew and Luton lost it could be a big week going into Blackpool. On the match, I thought we were dreadful 1st half, as bad as it could be. Credit to JDT though 2nd half I thought we were really really good. We pressed better, we competed more, we got the ball into wide areas and all the 45 was played in their half. Pears excellent again, Carter brilliant (all defenders were to be fair). Thomas gives us bundles of energy. Just all of them were so much better 2nd half. We play like that half all the time then we certainly have a chance of playoffs.

COYB!!! 2 CBs creating it!

Miles better this half.

Yeah I agree, we had some chances at West Brom early on, Brereton specifically. But absolutely nothing here. The key difference, we’re at home to a team that concedes a lot of goals here compared to away at a good West Brom side.

Almost being the key word. Broughton and co. watch this team every week and came out of January without a CM or a ST. Just not good enough.