samo II

Be interested who replaces him; Mags time to shine?

Bobby, you beauty. Gets a nice rest while the other lads put out Palace, then comes back to keep up his scoring streak. Think this line-up will work well counterattacking them too.

Rich considering Garner (who has always been a complete arse of a man) should have got hooked.

Agreed, but as Ian says... Last time we faced a freshly appointed Warnock at Cardiff - he'd already moved to bring in some free signings to bolster the side too. This time it is a Burton team who are in poor form, so fingers-crossed we have more of a chance.

First win at Portman Road in my lifetime; being my best mate is a Ipswich fan, a rare treat. Excellent result, and really impressed with this group of players and the coaching staff. Let's keep it up past the international break this year! COYR

It makes you wonder how it was 'inaccessible' before? Was it built on the roof of the stand or something?

Cracking turn around. If we see this out, that's seven points from this run of three games when I'd hoped for three overall. Excellent work from the lads and management.

Knackered, perhaps? Not much footie before Reading; might be pushing it to do three games in a week from cold.

Fantastic and unexpected stuff. Great to see Woodrow breaking his duck and Bobby to keep up his hot streak. Come on, City; keep it up!

Be more than happy with a draw. COYR

No idea how it'll work, but like the fact we've a good set of attackers on; worth going for it, as we never win there anyway! COYR!

They were very poor, especially their defence. Worst thing for them is that the only truly capable-looking player they own scored on telly, and so won't have fended off any interest others might have in him. Note on the second man in the Sky commentary box; said some pretty stupid things (dismissing a course-changing handball in the area as lacking "intent" being one), but his "Bristol Rovers will shake this off and be a force again this season" takes the biscuit as the dumbest - offered no evidence, and nor did their performance. Can just see a mid or lower midtable finish being enough to start the drums on the sags driving out the manager, followed by struggling against/ending up with relegation again, as they once again seem to have ideas of where they should be that are well above their capacities, just like when Trollope was in charge - "It's the ciiiiiircle of life..."

And no Flint, again.

Ha! Had exactly the same thought. Sounds like a right rip-roarer.

Like the bench; plenty of pace and nice defensive options. Would be great to see Eliasson get on and get involved today too. And Hinds had early an appearance, if we can afford to give him it late on. COYR!

I think this is a bigger thing than some realise. We're only played each other competitively eight times since 99/00. Only four of those games were in the league, and the last occurance of that was April 2001. So that is 15+ years since we were at the same level, and despite both teams best attempts last year, that'll likely extend to nearly 18 even if Rovers go up or we go down. There obviously is no statute of limitations on a rivalry, but with us playing the likes of Cardiff on a far more regular basis (and those being league games too), I suspect you'll end up with a generation who think of Bristol derbies as more of a mythic thing than something real.

"Bristol City; we're coming for you..."

They are in serious trouble, aren't they? However their fans try and spin it in order to comfort themselves, unless Wally and co. immediately announce a significant better option with a fixed timeframe for completion, I think they are in quite some bother. Still; makes their always hilarious chants about both "coming for us" all the more hollow and ridiculous.

Good point; sort it out, SL. Is this in place all year round? If Rovers celebrate Christmas everyday, that's perhaps something to be jealous of. It's basically Blackburn Rovers' if you look at it with a squint - thinking about it; imagine that explains the origin of the design. Now that is something worth celebrating tbf. But then I'd probably take a new couple of stands and Championship football instead... They do seem keen to celebrate folks who were regularly hung, drawn and quartered for being thieves. Makes you look at the shirts in a whole new light... Is their name is known so far and wide because they've squatted at so many grounds? Getting the feeling our apparent bitterness is wholly to do with the quality of their scran.

I don't know what possessed me to do it, but took a peek at gaschat via the link above and can anyone explain to me why they keep talking about us being "jealous" and "bitter" of them? Genuine question; what aspect of their club do they think we're jealous of? I cannot think of anything.

The bitter irony here is that getting to the playoffs was a very realistic goal for them until that utter capitulation against Peterborough. Way the results have gone, and with them playing Millwall at home, was in their hands to a certain extent. Expect their squad to be broken down and sold off this summer, including their manager. Midtable next year will be a decent achievement for them.

Hoping that the (very) dark days of earlier this season have genuinely taught his some important lessons, and we can actually move forward next year. I'm still uncertainty he's the right man, but credit to him for dragging us out of the mess we've floundered into. I have zero doubt he'll be in charge for next season now, and that will be his third transfer window, so after that; the judgement he asked the sceptical to reserve will be made. But for now am just relived we get to play at this level next year, and hope we can find another gem like Tammy from somewhere, as he's been magnificent, and massively important to us.

And a few newborns named Tammy in honour of our saviour, I imagine...

Once... Twice... Thrice... Four times agreed! Essentially safe now; good work from the team and coaching staff. Other than an insane set of results, we'll be at this level next year again, so that is something to celebrate after the season we've had. Glad we don't have to go to Brighton needing anything, and just looking to avoid a spanking! Relieved, and may crack open a cider or two in celebration tonight. Must to better next season though; this cannot be our only ambition (i.e. just staying up) now. But will enjoy tonight. COYR!

Tammy, you ruddy legend. Where would we be this year without that brilliant lad?