The Dolman Pragmatist

Huge game today. If we lose and Forest and Blackburn win, then we're virtually all level with two to play, and we then have to go to Brighton and spoil their title celebrations, which I can't see happening. Even if we are all just about level for the final match, I don't fancy our chances against Brum, especially with the return of Cotterill For me today is very much a must-win. A draw wouldn't be completely disastrous, providing other teams don't win, but a defeat will put us evens to go down, I fear.

I've tried to see the positives all season, and made myself unpopular at times, but tonight I just feel saddened by the whole thing. I still don't like the viciousness and the vitriol on this forum, because I thing people have really tried to make things work, but clearly it hasn't. The worst for me is the January transfer window which seems to have ripped the confidence out of the side, with a lot of money spent for players most of whom at the moment are barely contributing. We still have a good chance of staying up, with four at home and Blackburn to play, but I've run out of reasons to justify to my friends who support other clubs why there should be no change. With real regret, I have to concede that I can no longer find a reason for Lee Johnson to remain our Head Coach

'Single handedly'? No one else involved then?

He was a very good left back against Huddersfield...

I agree with the suggestion that we need four points from tonight and Saturday. My worry is that I don't think we'll beat Wolves, so we need a good performance tonight. The players need to step up to the plate. We have got the ability to do it.

Really? We take a 2-0 lead against the top side in the division at all their place, and come out with a 2-2 draw, and you can't be pleased? Tragic.

Utter rubbish. You should be ashamed. Is that really the best you can do?

Jesus, you're a miserable and joyless lot. He's picked a squad of professional footballers, pretty much in the positions you'd expect. Our two centre forwards are out, so he's brought back Wilbraham, who hasn't let us down before. You don't know how fit or unfit players, but you just can't wait to condemn, can you? I really despair. Can you do nothing but complain, even before the bl**dy match is underway?

Decent selection, though I'd have had Pack instead of Korey Smith. I was pretty sure that Wilbraham would start, and quite right for this fixture.

Full of cliches. 'Lack of guts' 'no belief' 'lack of defensive discipline'. Football isn't like that. A lead of 3-0 doesn't guarantee you a victory because there was another team out there, and probably a better one than us. Fact is we held on for a draw. The suggestion that LJ 'let this happen' is so staggeringly crass and naive that it defies belief. Are you for real? Come on, you're gas, aren't you?

Whereas 0-3 to 3-0 would presumably show a fundamental strength? Look, we're all disappointed, but when Liverpool came back from three down at half time in the Champions League final, I don't remember anyone suggesting it was because Milan were sh*t.

Please explain why it is any different to any other 3-3 draw, apart from in the inevitable sense of disappointment?

I can't believe this forum, or perhaps I should. If we had been 3-0 down at half time and come back to get a 3-3 draw, people would have been hailing a fantastic point. The fact is we were playing a very good side who had the same number of players as us, and we scored three goals each. It doesn't matter what order they were scored in. They scored three and we scored three. It was a good point. Of course it's disappointing, having been in the lead, but it's still a good point. Those who say they would have been happy with a point before the game should be happy. We got a point.

No it's not. Why are you pretending that it is?

Sadly, and I mean sadly, for the first time I think I've drifted into this camp. Last thing I wanted, but I fear the end is nigh.

And if you're wrong, will you go away?

Ah, it's the managers fault again then. Brilliant. So the fact everyone thought it was a good team selection doesn't count then: he's 'set them up for a 0-0 draw'! How does that work then? Do the players not have brains in their heads? Is their every move controlled by the manager on the touchline? Get a grip. Time the players took responsibility.

The 'current incarnation of city' delivered a few things in the first three months of the season, didn't it? Could it possibly be that we are going through a bad patch from which we will recover?

I love you lot. The more you take the p*ss out of everything the Gas are - ground, fans, resources, players, manager etc.etc. - the more remarkable their position in League One becomes. I would not bet against them getting promotion this season. They have a winning mentality and you can't buy that. They also tend to get better as the season goes on, and have an impressive record in play-offs. Looks as if relegation to the Conference may turn out to have been the best thing that ever happened to them...

Couldn't you just have celebrated?

Give it a rest, eh?

No sign of Gustav in the 18...

I think he may be in the long term, but I haven't seen it yet. Freeman contributed more in the Villa match than O'Dowda has so far...

So, loyal football fans of relatively small club queue for tickets for a plum cup match. Meanwhile across the city, smug fans of club bankrolled by billionaire celebrate making online purchases from their sunbeds abroad. Frankly, I'd rather be one of those Rovers supporters queuing for a ticket than a fan of one of the multi-million corporate entities who make-up our so called 'premier league'. Am I the only here who rather admires fans who opt for the smaller club in a two-club city?

Sorry, but not clear how winning a penalty shootout, and then a rival losing a key match, amounts to 'luck'. Rovers got promotion last year by coming second in a season of 46 games; getting through to the playoff final; then winning the final on penalties. Can't see that as being luck-related. This year they have gone one better by getting automatic promotion after 46 games. The fact that Accrington lost their final game is neither here not there. Rovers ended up in a higher position after 46 games and any luck will probably have been two-way across the season. I think they have done fantastically well in the last two seasons and if I were a Rovers fan I'd be chuffed to bits. As to where is their 'natural position' - no such thing! I grew up with the likes of Watford and Swansea as lower division clubs, and look at them now. If I were a Rovers fan I'd be optimistic about next season. I'd certainly expect a top-half finish from them.