ARLukomski

A much better 2nd half performance from Notts, where we took full control and in the end, deserved our victory. The first half was poor from our point of view. Good save by Belshaw to deny Jatta, but we made some silly errors. One which lead to us clearing one off of the line and the other just about being scrambled away at the last second. Our goal came from a good run forward by Gordon, where he took two men on and won us a throwing. From there we built up and Didzy's shot was saved, but Abbott reacted quickest. The goal we conceded was poor. Route one, straight down the middle, we don't deal with it and it's poked home. Once again, we only properly perform for one half, but this time the 2nd half was much better. A higher intensity, where Gordon and Jones were pushed higher up to pin Harrogate back and both were a lot more direct when given the chance to take on their man. So many more forward passes, as shown in our 2nd goal. Platt passes forward to Bedeau, who passed forward to Jones (in the half space), who zips the ball across goal. I have no idea how Jatta misses, but Grant is there. The 3rd goal again showcases our improved intensity and directness, where quick forward passes result in Gordon getting in behind, crossing to Grant, who takes his time and his shot deflects in to kill the game. If we had performed like we did in the 2nd half today, over the course of the season and being consistent, then we wouldn't have to be relying on Fleetwood and Crewe heading into the final day. It's the time where we look back on games that have cost us. Cheltenham (H), Chesterfield (H), Newport (H), Crewe (H), Barrow (H), Bromley (H), Colchester (H and A) and Vale (A). All games where we either missed chances, poor performances, lack of ruthlessness, slow intensity and little urgency have cost us. The fact we've taken down to the final day is quite remarkable. It hasn't felt like a promotion season at all. Performances have been unconvincing and mediocre for most of the season, but it's not just us. Everyone else has. Donny and Vale have had the most consistent runs of form in the run in, but even they have had times like it. We've been let off so many times because of how poor and inconsistent other teams have been, but they've been let off by us, because of the same reasons. I know I have seem frustrated with SM, the players and most recently the board a few times over recent weeks but it's because I want the best. Despite being inconsistent for a lot of the season, I know this team can be better than the way we have performed and I knew that back in October/November. I knew he wasn't going after Salford away because he still had/has a lot of time left on his deal. The Barrow home game made me feel so annoyed because of our performance. I knew we'd lose at Wimbledon that Saturday and I was fed up with us and how we were playing. Then Grimsby, Chezzy and Crewe gave us ups, downs and frustration, but everyone else was doing their best to not get promoted as well. Then we put in a good performance for 90 against Newport and a 45 minute job against MK in which was a sweet win. Then the Colchester loss deflated me so much and in the days after, I felt demoralised and fed up again, because the performance was bad and I thought that was our automatic chances gone and I had no hope of us winning the play-offs because of our record against other teams and how we don't turn up in big games. This deflated feeling carried on into Salford, Bradford and Cheltenham and despite getting a point from Valley Parade, it felt too little, too late. Then we kept getting offered lifeline after lifeline and somehow we've found ourselves with the most outside shot of outside shots of getting 3rd. The perfectly imperfect football club is once again proving that 2006 survey correct.

Hull City 0-0 Derby County Preston North End 1-1 Plymouth Argyle Burton Albion 1-1 Cambridge United Crawley Town 1-1 Northampton Town Fleetwood Town 2-1 Newport County (Joker) Salford City 0-1 Colchester United Boston United 2-1 Gateshead Forest Green Rovers 1-0 Oldham Athletic

Give me strength. I've seen that same home performance time and time and time again. Slow and flat, apart from that Didzy chance from a corner in the 1st half 1-0 up though which was needed and from then on, a promotion chasing side, a good side, a team with mentality keeps going. We have the "we're 1-0 up so it's ok if we don't score again because theres loads of time left" mentality. I've seen it so many times this season, where we're just nowhere near ruthless or urgent enough. In all honesty I fully gave up after Colchester. To be 2 points off and put in that performance was shambolic. I was so negative heading in to the Salford game because I knew what was going to happen. A team who had nothing to play for wanted it more today. Didzy was once again our best player and the only one trying to drag us into gear. The fact we're relying on a 37 year old Didzy, says a lot. I've been to every game in league and cup this season. All 44 league games so far, both FA Cup games, the League Cup 1st round and all 3 Trophy games. The performances have been very meh all season. The occasional good, but more mediocre and poor. That's not sustainable if you want to win promotion. I'm not just questioning Maynard but the owners as well. They've done so many good things for us but what is actually going on? Why has Maynard not been given extra coaching staff? If you've given him a 3½ year deal at the start of his tenure, then back him. Don't be in and out. You need to ruthless and decisive.

Hull City 1-0 Preston North End Millwall 2-1 Norwich City Lincoln City 0-1 Bolton Wanderers Wigan Athletic 1-0 Rotherham United Accrington Stanley 1-2 Carlisle United (Joker) Chesterfield 1-1 Bradford City Eastleigh 1-2 Yeovil Town Wealdstone 2-2 Maidenhead United

Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Millwall Coventry City 1-0 West Bromwich Albion Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers Stevenage 2-1 Blackpool AFC Wimbledon 1-1 Chesterfield (Joker) Fleetwood Town 1-2 Barrow Altrincham 2-2 Rochdale Boston United 1-1 Wealdstone

Didn't want to post the current scores because it's just a bit unfair and dodgy. I know it's tongue-in-cheek 😂

Cardiff City 0-0 Stoke City Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 Oxford United Barnsley 1-2 Bolton Wanderers Bristol Rovers 0-0 Exeter City Accrington Stanley 2-1 Tranmere Rovers (Joker) Morecambe 1-1 Carlisle United Dagenham & Redbridge 0-1 Hartlepool United Tamworth 2-1 Braintree Town Bit late. If you don't want to count my points that's fair. It's my own fault. I blame Notts for making me fed up with football

Bristol City 1-0 Watford Swansea City 1-1 Derby County Leyton Orient 2-0 Wigan Athletic (Joker) Shrewsbury Town 2-1 Cambridge United Bradford City 1-0 Crewe Alexandra Fleetwood Town 2-1 Swindon Town Altrincham 1-0 Yeovil Town Sutton United 0-1 Southend United

Crawley Town 2-2 Peterborough United Lincoln City 1-1 Huddersfield Town Northampton Town 1-0 Rotherham United Crewe Alexandra 1-1 Grimsby Town (Joker) Doncaster Rovers 0-0 Walsall Harrogate Town 0-1 Tranmere Rovers Aldershot Town 2-1 Fylde Wealdstone 1-2 Boston United

Norwich City 1-1 West Bromwich Albion Stoke City 1-2 Queens Park Rangers Blackpool 2-2 Bolton Wanderers Bristol Rovers 1-2 Mansfield Town Barrow 1-0 Chesterfield Walsall 1-1 AFC Wimbledon (Joker) Dagenham & Redbridge 0-1 Maidenhead United Tamworth 1-0 Eastleigh

Crawley Town 2-2 Bristol Rovers Wrexham 1-1 Stockport County Bradford City 1-1 Colchester United (Joker) Carlisle United 1-1 Bromley Chesterfield 2-1 Harrogate Town Oldham Athletic 1-1 Halifax Town Solihull Moors 1-0 Yeovil Town Wealdstone 1-2 Woking

I'd say we were passing the ball about at a quicker intensity in the first half, than in any of the last few games combined. Yet again though, we missed chances and that brings up problem number 1 (Ruthlessness). Too many times we don't take our chances, which I have said before is a team problem. Port Vale (A), Newport (H), Fleetwood (A) and Gillingham (H). All games we failed to take our chances in. Even in games we won, we missed chances to increase the winning margin which include Accrington (H), Harrogate (H) and Carlisle (H). Whilst those 3 ended up in victories, it still shows our lack of ruthlessness in front of goal. The latter of the three was a particular poor performance. In the 2nd half, we allowed them more territory and more possession. During this we had everyone bar Jatta behind the ball and we were only just past the hour mark. Both goals come from us dropping so deep and giving them all the time in the world to pass the ball around. Nobody is closing them down, pressing them. That brings me to my 2nd problem (Mentality). We're too happy with mediocrity. After we equalised, we should have the momentum and energy to go again and get the winning goal in front of the Kop against our local rivals, but no not us. Instead, we retreat and are happy to settle for the point. We literally retreat to how we were before they opened the scoring. Where is the want and the will to go for it? Where is the fire in us? The performance was alright apparently and guess what? We lost, again. It's ok though because we've got injuries. If you are having to rely on Didzy, who is 37, to try and inspire some fire inside of you to win in a promotion battle and fight for this football club, you are in trouble and you need to take a look at yourself. Didzy and Jodi barely a combined 15 minutes at Cheltenham, in what was arguably our best away performance of the season. Injuries also don't stop you doing basic things like running with the ball into space, pressing and playing 5 yard passes to a teammate. This basically sums up point number 3 (Urgency). There was a bit more of it yesterday (in which we still lost) but that does not excuse the lack of it throughout the season. The last thing is intensity. The lack of it throughout the season, which has lead to our consistent unconvincing performances.

Coventry City 2-2 Sunderland Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Derby County Blackpool 1-1 Leyton Orient Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Wrexham Accrington Stanley 2-0 Gillingham (Joker) Newport County 1-0 Harrogate Town Sutton United 1-1 Halifax Town Wealdstone 2-1 Eastleigh

So many questions need answering - Why haven't we replaced our assistant head coach? - Why haven't we replaced our first team coach - What is Didzy's actual injury and why was he a week away just before Fleetwood and now it's another week? - What is Sam Austin's actual injury and why is he out so long? - Why was Lewis Macari scheduled to be out till the end of March and came back 4 weeks earlier? Does this say something about the timeframes our medical staff are projecting? - Why have our performances not been convincing this season? Slow passing, slow intensity, inconsistent press, running with the ball into space, the will to run through brick walls for the club to win. - Why have we not re-invested the money we have made off of transfers?

Swansea City 1-2 Middlesbrough West Bromwich Albion 1-0 Queens Park Rangers Stevenage 1-1 Mansfield Town (Joker) Wigan Athletic 1-1 Cambridge United Barrow 1-0 Accrington Stanley Salford City 2-1 Crewe Alexandra AFC Fylde 1-0 Braintree Town Southend United 1-2 Altrincham