samo II

Probably. Stephen King makes a mint from horror stories less terrifying than this.

Christ.

****. That sums us up.

PEN! Please God/Satan/whoever will listen; score! COYR

Please tell me this isn't as bad in person as it sounds on the radio. Because it sounds utterly shit.

All Burton at present...

So according to the image posted on Facebook we're playing 3421. Let's see how it goes! COYR!

Will be interesting to see the pic of how they line-up, but you'd presume 3511-ish. And starting with Reid, Tomlin, Bryan and Cotts has me curious; have those four ever played together? If they 'click' I'd suggest those four could be a decent creative quartet for us. Need a win today. COYR!

We beat Burton earlier this season thanks to a healthy dose of luck and Tammy. I worry that without either of those things, today will prove a tougher proposition. And if we fail to take three points today, that would mean that out of our last five (Leeds, Fulham, Newcastle, Villa and Burton) we'd have only matched or improved on one result (Newcastle draw) from the first half of the season - even the staunchest of the LJ faithful would have to question if that really represents anything close to progress. So let us hope we start our push back up the table starts today, and we can do the double on Burton. It is undeniably one of the most crucial games we've faced this season; please let us pass this test. COYR

Just arrived. It's raining.

Villa are on an atrocious run; no win in seven, and only five points in advance of us now. They've not got the easiest run before facing us, so wonder if this might look a slightly easier game when it arrives depending on our respective runs of form.

I thought it was interesting when the commentary indicated Butterfield could have been sent for a second yellow, something in my mind went "this'll do for us" - after that he seemed to be everywhere and involved in everything. Pleased Taylor looks to have really added something; reckon he'll bag a few before the season is out.

I'd have taken a point before kick off, but clearly; you should never lose from 3 nil up unless your opponent is on fire. Still; results have been VERY kind to us - if Newcastle beat Wolves we'll have had a good Saturday. Real shame we didn't bury one of the other good chances, but need to learn how to hold on to leads.

Bloody hell. Tammy & Taylor tearing them apart. I'd have been delighted with a point here; three would be fantastic. Expect them to come at us second half, so nothing won yet, but heck of a 45 mins. And sound like Matty Taylor is already paying back the pittance we paid the sags for him.

I'm liking Bryan and Cotterill wide; hoping that can contribute a bit more creativity.

Can see the logic with him being benched tbf; can bring him on to put more steel or just refresh that central midfield, and we've got a game Tuesday too, so if we're going to try 442 for that too, think he'll get minutes over the next two games.

44-bloody-2; pleased with that. Could have argued Djuric might have deserved a start, but nice option from that bench. Bryan, Brownhill and Cotterill in midfield should give us some energy and drive. Still think they'll have too much for us, but like the line up, and two up top away is refreshing. Tammy and Taylor to cause some trouble, please!

My hope today is we put in an energetic performance, in part thanks to getting the 'no wins in ages' monkey off our backs, and also because we are underdogs today. Personally would like the new strikers to get some goals; would be great for their confidence going into this tough run. But don't expect we'll have quite enough to get anything today; would take a decent showing but a defeat to build us up for another hard trip to Leeds on Valentines. I live in hope that I'm proved completely wrong to the tune of three points for City! COYR!

The bare minimum needed this week was four points; we got that. Said in a post earlier this week that a win was needed as the form of those down the bottom might mean that would still only leave us just outside the drop zone, which is where we are now. One positive is that QPR and Wolves (and hopefully Forest later too) have failed to move into midtable today, and are now only a few points ahead of us; with the form of those below, this might aid us. I wasn't there, so no idea how good/bad the performance was, but we will need to play well to get anything from the next run of away games. Hopefully we've got confidence from today, but a long road ahead. Finally; good to see Djuric get a goal - like the lad, and if he can marry goals to his workrate, we'll have a serious player on our hands.

If you mean Blackburn I agree - give no ***** about any other Rovers.

Be interested in the thoughts of those attending; sounds like we're giving it a proper go just now, but fluffing our lines when best placed to take advantage. Also sounds like things are 'cooling' and that has resulted in a few more forays forwards by Rotherham. What a difference a goal for us would make...

The most 'must win' game that isn't actually must win (i.e. nothing is actually decided today or directly on the back of the result). With Sheffield Wednesday doing us a huge favour last night and halting Wigan's recent upturn in form, we must take full advantage and put six points between them and us, and equally aim to make up ground on the likes of Forest, Ipswich and QPR above us, in order to make this relegation fight more open. With a game in hand on many ahead of us after today, the scary run coming up over the rest of the month would be a little less intimidating knowing a chance win, or even a couple of points might keep us from getting cut adrift. The dark side of all this is that new signings or not, I'm still firmly of the mind that Johnson has to get a win today in order to retain any crumb of good will, and a shot at tuning things around over the rest of the season. It hasn't been mentioned much, but one factor about today's game is that if we fail to win (and yes; even if it helps us, I do not think a draw is enough to have LJ stay for any good reason) we'd have won just twice and drawn twice (or three times dependant on today) in 20 league games, and from looking at it, no team has survived at this level having had a run like that. Said it before; Rotherham or bust for LJ - I hope we start a come back today with nothing less than three points, otherwise I think his time is up.

Well, we needed that. It was the minimum we needed; LJ is right that it means absolutely nothing if we do not beat Rotherham. And we could be level on points with 23rd if results do not go our way; it's a long road ahead. Rotherham or bust.

Please, City; come out fighting. Really need this run to end tonight, and a win could be so important.

Tomlin sounds like he has something to prove. Tammy half chance; Brownhill hits the post in the aftermath but is off side.