Hands on

I still think we will go to Northampton able to secure league 1 football with a win even if we lose against Doncaster however I would much rather we win and get the three points we may need Saturday. How anyone could think the team put out Tuesday was set up to draw I don't know. Draw would have been OK but he went for it and left our defenders open on both wings. If he does this desperation tactic again and the again we will take the drop. It will come down to who scores first. Us and we have a chance Them and we will lose.

I’m a no. He has had two chances. The first he passed with flying colours and was given the job. Sadly since then it has gone from good to bad to worse. I don’t blame him for the players we have but only the way he has used them. Falling out with Clarke and shipping him out without a replacement is what is costing us now. Last night with a young defence he should have looked to protect them - not only down the middle but wide as well. He doesn’t seem able to get the best out of Byrne, culpable for their first goal, or Doyle. Both want the ball to feet. We are not done yet but either way his time should be up.

A game when the first to score would be favourite to win. Why did they score because the player standing by the far post ran out after the ball again. If he stays where he was they don't score. Who was it? Byrne. To expose our young defence by playing Nazon and Byrne wide in midfield was a culpable error and another demonstration that Wellens has lost whatever he had before he was given the responsibility of managing our team full time. Could have been 3 3 or 4 3 but we lost and the run comes to an end. We still need just three points and with two games to go don't give up yet. Three bottom teams got just the one point between them. A win would be massive. A draw at Northampton puts them below us but we have to rely on Walsall or Rochdale getting nothing else if we can only manage a draw.

The answer is to go the Joe Royle way and get Doyle scoring again - open attack attack but I expect long ball caution as nerves get the better of us.

We could go three at back with Edmundson, Wilson and Stott. Teams that have nothing to play for are only a push over if you are capable of pushing. It is all down to our 11.

Fascinating prospect. If Northampton win on Saturday against Walsall we could still finish above them by just winning the last game of the season against them. So although it is in our own hands if Rochdale or Walsall stumble on the final day could be a real nail biter.

I don't mind the draw when it seems we did try to win. On to Southend....

Its getting difficult to see how 51 points will be enough. Help!

I suspect he will do well. Football management indeed any management is about character. I can't see Joey capitulating to playing the crap football we are currently being served up. Shez is on a win win - 9 months off 3 months on is a great career move.

This is old news. Release Johny and signing Lloyd.

Whatever Wellens says his focus will once again be on not losing. Once that idea surfaces the team will play conservatively which of course means putting the ball in the opposition half so the lucky travellers to Norbiton will see another exhibition of Byrne watching the ball fly over his head. If Wimbledon win that is another team safe. If we draw we are still in the mire and they are one step away from safety. If we win we will then be one step away from safety. I don't like the focus on our two home matches because to use a poker analogy the equity in winning this match is immense. I don't like matches against teams who have nothing to lose or gain and both Southend and Doncaster have nothing to play for which usually allows them the freedom to play well. Northampton are also likely to be relegated when we visit them so I see this next game as not our only chance but definitely our best chance of avoiding the drop.

When subbed I’m told Byrne complained of neck ache from watching the ball fly over his head. Now that sums up the way we have stopped playing football. Another four draws will probably do it but I can’t see that happening so we need to win a game. We have a class striker in Doyle and created just one chance for him all game.

Ah the gut feeling is not good. Drink! A win would allow us to climb above Walsall and get some distance from Rochdale we would still have a hand on the ladder. It could also stop the better than us run of results they are having. A draw wouldn't hurt either of us but I would then expect Rochdale to go on and equal or accumulate more points than us ie above us in the table and we would still need another four points. A loss will see a team that is then on a much better run than us above us. So then either Oxford have to lose all their remaining games, or Wimbledon take just one point from four or Walsall just two points from four. Latics would have to find five points with the best result for us a win away at Wimbledon. 51 points has not been relegated in the last ten years. I don't see us recovering from losing tonight hence I said lose and this is it. On Fane I believe he had a shot on target against Walsall which was deflected for a corner. Undoubtedly it is a truism that if we had a better player we wouldn't be playing him but sadly we have loads of players who Wellens thinks/knows are worse than him. He has improved but not as much as I had hoped. Slightly off topic it seems the replacement for Johny, one Lloyd, is made of the same stuff coming out like a headless chicken in his last game.

This is it. Lose and we are done.

Latics have the players but unfortunately they don't have the leadership. How can RW persist in playing Byrne wide when clearly we are a better team with him central and without any defensive duties. That said Byrne was poor first half giving away the ball and worse second half because he hasn't adapted to life at this level. The team has to be set up with him central or if 4 4 2 is the way to go without him. We were better 4 5 1 but Holloway comes on and it is the useless 4 4 2 again. Rochdale isn't a must win but it certainly is a must not lose. They could put us down on Tuesday.

And then there were six in the relegation mix. Those on 47 should get clear. Two games stand out for me - Rochdale and Northampton both away. Win those we stay up, lose and they might be the two of the six to escape.

Well if it is too wet I'll be off to Mossley who are having a new manager bounce. At least the snow/slush has gone but it keeps on raining and the cricket field behind me is waterlogged. We need this game today win or lose.

Season ticket offer not looking so good with current form. Perhaps the discount is for league 2. Wins and safety by 20th April most unlikely.

The only team that looks like it is dead and buried is Bury. We are under threat from all those teams around us but we just (some just) need 11 points from 9 games to stay up. The games against Rochdale and Northampton are getting bigger and bigger. It goes to the wire. Like others I'm no longer confident that we can do what is needed but RW does seem to blow hot or cold so we just (some just) need another hot run of games.

Byrne going deep to help out? 3 5 2 allows 2 up front with Byrne as a 10.

Unfortunate display by Mossley who are a team on the slide to relegation. It was hoof ball not long ball just anywhere will do away from goal. Obviously lacking in confidence and beaten by a much better display from Osset who have strengthened their squad and look like getting out of trouble. Enjoyable for Osset, pie, chips and gravy (£3) and a pint of Dortmunder vier on the terraces - not forgetting the bus pass door to door.

What no Ollie Banks? No doubt why they lost!

If you go to Mossley which I might now I've been reminded don't miss the Fleece opposite the car park up from the ground. Free house with wonderful cocktails for £3.50.

The point I made badly about Fane, who I like and would have him in my starting 11 every week, is that teams don't need to bother about him with the ball they simply have to closely mark Byrne leaving Fane to have to make a pass rather than just lay it off to Byrne. The same is true of our strikers. When Doyle plays he is the one you have to mark because the ball is most likely to bounce off the rest. This is where Pringle helped because he can receive and make a pass and would if playing give Fane another option. Press Johny, mark Byrne & mark Doyle and hey presto you can nullify our team. I would go 3 (Bryan, Edmundson & Gerrard) 5 (two wing backs and Fane & Gardener holding and Byrne or McEleney behind a front two) 2 (Doyle and the Duck).

What a waste of an afternoon. Teams have learnt to attack down the side that Byrne plays on - both goals started on his side. Teams have learnt not to bother marking Fane because although I like what he can do he can't find a pass or a strike in the direction of goal. Teams have learnt to put pressure on Byrne and Doyle. Teams have learnt to put pressure on Johny and hey presto yesterday Portsmouth reaped the rewards of good organisation and preparation. Wellens needs to respond to this and what he did yesterday didn't work at all. Why drop Pringle who has just scored for us? Getting nothing out of that game sets us right back with Walsall off and Wigan our next game. Playing twice a week in April like Rochdale it could be them sending us down rather than the other way round. Northampton looks more like a relegation decider every game we play.