Kernow

Pretty much as well as it could’ve gone then today. Still with a game in hand on Portsmouth but 3 points closer. Only behind Posh on goals scored. Still can’t write off Oxford or Barnsley but I can’t see the top 2 coming from anyone other than the current top 4.

Since their goal we just retook control of the game. I was expecting an onslaught for 10+ minutes but we’ve done well to just push our foot on the accelerator when needed, it’s frustrating that we allowed them a way back in and even gave them a chance. We definitely know how to pick up points away from home, that bodes well. Pompey play later, but for the first time in ages we’re on the same amount of games and the gap is only 4 points. All to play for!

Thank f*** for that! 3 points, 3 goals, move on!

Really poor. Going to have to really dig in to keep the 3 points now.

To be fair, from the TV camera angle at least, it looked like the defender won the ball. It’s only after replays you can see that the defender takes TJJ’s foot and that’s what knocks the ball in that direction. It’s not a horrendous error like we’ve seen before, it’s one that will happen when you don’t have VAR.

Well the cat wouldn’t need medicine if it wasn’t pawly, would it?

Important goal! That should hopefully change the game a little now. Fleetwood are as expected, they’ve been compact on a small pitch but when breaking they have caused some worry to our back line. Hopefully it’s a little more open now as they will have to be a little more expressive. I’d say we do deserve to be ahead but definitely need to get a proper hold of this game now and get another goal soon.

I realised about 30 mins after that I’d got my days mixed up, thought I’d got away with it! I blame being in a pigs in blankets daze for about 2 weeks.

My guess would be 3-4-3 too, but with NML in the 10 role. Hopefully we’ve worked hard on that shape throughout the season because the start of the season wasn’t pretty at the back. I wonder if TJJ getting a start is almost a tester to see if we are going to keep him or if we need to look elsewhere. No starts before today, so if we choose to go with him at the expense of a different option, we need to know that he’s capable of starting and playing the majority of the game.

Azaz was one of the standout players in Plymouth’s side last year and by the sounds of it has had a pretty good year in the Championship too. They’re the same age, except Azaz was sold by a PL club where fees are often inflated because the clubs aren’t as desperate for the money. If we got anywhere near that fee I’d be happy with that.

Fleetwood 1-3 Derby Nelson

We definitely have the ability to catch them. Whether we actually will or not is a different question. I want to see how we bounce back on Saturday first. Saturday was disappointing but if we’re winning at our current rate for the rest of the season (80%) then we will be promoted. I hope we can use Saturday as a positive in the sense that it shows where we do need to improve to get to our goals.

If we are forced to sell because he won’t commit to a new contract then it might not be the worst thing, depending on how much we get. I’ve seen figures of about £2mil banded about. If we were to spend £2mil on a midfielder, I’d expect to get somebody who is a standout midfielder in this league. Max Bird isn’t that. For comparison, Finn Azaz is going from Villa to Boro for £2mil and he is a much better player than Bird. We can definitely improve the team with those funds, if we made smart decisions in the market.

Bristol City have more ex-Derby players than Derby have ex-Rotherham players. They may as well call themselves Derby B. Must be because Nigel Pearson used to be their manager. #NeedSomeScouts

What a shame, he was doing a good job.

They wouldn't have. Wilson left for Bristol City in the summer of 2022, Savage didn't join FGR on loan until January 2023.

The only luck was that he didn't get a second yellow. They still deserved the win, and they might still have got a goal, but I don't think they would have won if they were down to 10 men from that point.

Win our game in hand and we’re 4 points off top 2 at most. Today is gutting but there’s a long way to go, and we have favourable games coming up to put this right. It’s all about how we bounce back now.

Sleeping there. Really poor goal to concede.

I was screaming at Ward to cut his run to Bird’s left. That’s where the space was and would’ve put him in an excellent position to get the ball or be a decoy.

Credit to Callum Elder (the man who does actually exist after all) this half. That’s not the first time he’s made a potentially goal saving block, and he’s putting his body on the line at the same time.