I thought the ref got all of the decisions right. You could say we were lucky because very often a ref would have made a different decision. It was the same last week with Keogh's clearance which I also think the ref got right.

On the other hand we had no luck with Butterfield's shot which hit the inside of the post and Vydra's effort which, although he should undoubtedly had scored, was a bit unlucky to hit the keeper's leg and then the post and go wide. We had all of the good chances and played the better football.

Importantly there are clear signs of improvement and a feeling we are still quite a way from our best. I think Vydra will be a good player for us when he finds his shooting boots and I expect Bryson to be back in the starting line-up soon. If George could get fit then I think he and Johnson could anchor the midfield and give lots of possibilities further forward. If we can keep the momentum going until the new year it could still be a very exciting season.

Last - agreed.SMc can clearly motivate this team and I'm sure better is still to come.

I have also been really impressed with Pearce.

Pearce is leading the chase for the Jack Stamps at the moment.

Pearce has limitations with the ball at his feet but plays within those limitations. He's a very solid player who makes few mistakes, which is what you want from central defenders. Centre-halves who think they can play football are generally a liability. He seems a top character too.

Pearce is not as commanding in the air as Shackell but he is good enough. He is more mobile, brings the ball under control quicker and releases the ball quicker. That is his big advantage.

When we had Baird, Warnock and Shackell in the team the opposition defence could almost go for a cup of tea it took so long for the ball to get up field.

They were instructed to play that way by Clement though. At Burnley Shackell could release the ball quickly enough but only in the form of a long diagonal punt. That isn't the way we want to play now. Whether Baird is capable of playing in a quicker team I don't know but I wouldn't be especially hopeful, however he may be a reasonable enough stopgap. The most important task of a right back is to defend and he is pretty good at the basics of that job.

"Centre-halves who think they can play football are generally a liability."

#MistaKeoghOUT

The bait was not a sophisticated one, yet sufficient to tempt the bottom-dweller from the depths and persuade him to swallow it down. It is said that carp are relatively intelligent fish, who when caught with a particular bait will not be tempted again with the same offering, no matter how tasty. It is fair to say that 666 is not the human equivalent of a carp. The bony-eared assfish is believed the have the lowest weight ratio of brain to body of any known vertebrate. I'll just leave it there.

I think 666 is the human equivalent of, oh, you wrote carp. Misread it.

Chub are fish that eat anything, hence the word chubby for people with BMI issues.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acanthonus_armatus

Thtat's an obscure bit of information Vidal. Thought you made it up.

They are suddenly looking like a top six side. Not there yet, but having expunged the Pearson methodology they do look a lot more as if they are enjoying it and one of the main beneficiaries is Ince.

And as for 666 he either lives in a permanent red mist or one comes over him whenever he sees or hears the word - central defender.

That Keogh though, eh? Garbage.

When a renowned and respected footballing officiando such as Milfy raises an eyebrow about Captain Calamity's performance then you know that the perforance was questionable, and further can extrapolate that the hordes who gifted the starey-eyed Plastic Paddy another unwarranted Jack Stamps are indeed sheep rather than Rams.

I do wonder why so many of you are so entrenched with your appraisals of The White Claude Davis and can only assume it is to garner a response from me, a sort of football forum equivalent of schoolboys tugging a schoolgirl's ponytail just to be noticed and have your otherwise meaningless existences validated, or something.

#666knows #teamPeabo #CB4 #SaveDru #NSRforPresident #BrexitMeansBrexit

I thought Keogh had a poor game on Saturday as it happens, not in his defensive work which was good but in his control and use of the ball. He and Pearce have been consistently very reliable as a pair though which is why our defensive record has been so good this season. He has very few off days.

You need consistency of performance in defence. Further forward you can tolerate a bit more variability because players need to take risks to have a chance of scoring. That's why Ince always plays, not because he is always good but because he carries the greatest threat of our wide players. If he's having a stinker he can be subbed and it doesn't matter all that much. Subbing a centre-half is a big deal because partnerships are so important. We're very lucky to have a solid pair at centre-back.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: Acanthonus armatus knows nowt.

There is very little merit in getting a response from 666. And if you do, like as not, it will be an unpleasant remark or opinion about folk who regularly put in a beneficial performance for the team we all love. Or against the many who actually trouble to go to the iPro to support the club both financially and spiritually, and even those hardy and reliable supporters who travel to away games at great trouble and expense.

You are right as ever, Ramdini. These bathypelagic species of cusk-eel should go back to the depths of their tropical and sub-tropical oceans, or wherever it is that they came from.

Here, here to that Vidal

The mind boggles at the mental image of 666 blowing his deep rooted bubbles.

Not only "here, here" but also "there, there". You have to have sympathy for the fatheaded fool. This is what he looks like, apparently:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p026yswq/p026yv2x

My case; it's resting

I'm sure I have seen him attend the odd game at the iPro. Just once last year I think.

Rest your case permanently 666, there's a good chap.

I guess we're not having that golfing trip this (or next) year then?...

It's the Inaugural Vidals' Invitational, Baz, and so it's out of my hands.

Well, that plus I'm crap at it.