Football

Without wanting to sound like a Whining Kopite or a Cliveo Conspiracy Theorist, we got unlucky with a bad run of injuries at the wrong time. That coupled with McClaren reportedly already on his way to Newcastle in the summer has destroyed our hopes of automatic promotion.

We looked comfortable in January. Getting the results we needed, but the fixture list this season meant March was always going to be the key month with all the teams at the top playing each other in key matches. Losing Thorne for 90% of the season (he's come back from injury twice and gone straight back to the treatment table each time) was a blow, but then losing two players who cover his position which was vital to our tactic was catastrophic. Then losing Martin (our lynchpin) followed by Bent a couple of weeks later meant that we were completely toothless in attack and no one feared us. The pressure on the whole team has told and now we are picking up any scraps we can to keep in the play off picture.

We sneaked a draw at home to Brentford. It was horrible to watch, but we got the result we needed. It doesn't matter though, we've thrown away points against Birmingham, Brighton and 10 man Watford.

Fortunately, if we can keep it together and not have to rush back key players, I still feel we can at least put up a fight against any team in the playoffs.

My straws are being well and truly clutched.