Phew...

Headbutt.

11 shots, 5 on target, 1 goal. Striker desperately needed.

As plenty of Burnley fans said about our O'Brien fiasco, a rule is a rule. Top 2 teams breaking the rules, what a surprise, and what a stupid punishment.

A Wharton was brilliant against Blackpool, but then the following against Bristol City was a bit anonymous. I thought he was probably still feeling the effects of the midweek match but others have since said he was a bit lazy, thinking his talent would see him through against a harder working team. I'm not sure if that's true but perhaps JDT thinks the same thing and hopes that when he gets back in, he'll give 100% every game to keep his place.

That may be true, but if we have any aspirations then we need to be looking at getting in better replacements. Overall, Buckley has had a disappointing season. His earlier performances were absolutely terrible.

I'm not sure where I said you did, but I wouldn't be surprised.

They were already on their holidays against Sheffield United who didn't play well themselves, but didn't have to try too hard to beat them.

I was meaning in Souness's time, had he needed players through the door in January he'd have got them so would have fielded a stronger eleven from the off.

No one would "contently" accept finishing outside the top 6. There are a section of the fans who would understand the fault of it isn't entirely at the managers door, and that he's done well with the hand he's been dealt, in his first season. Which is a completely different thing than being "content" about it.

Souness would have been backed in January and wouldn't have had to.

JDT is definitely bearing the brunt of all the years of frustration. And the next man will probably get it worse. We have a section of the fanbase that often doesn't expect us to win, yet are surprised after a defeat. That knows that Sam Gallagher is a limited footballer/we struggle for goals, but expect a good attacking performance. That knows the club didn't invest a penny in January, but expect better than last season. That predicted a mid or even lower table finish pre season, but now expect play offs minimum. For a fanbase used to continual disappointments year after year, we're an entitled bunch. The next manager need to be less a manager and more a miracle worker.

Or, perhaps he knows the squad isn't good enough for promotion, as pretty much everyone did before the season started, and at the moment are exceeding his expectations, as they are for pretty much everyone. And perhaps the players didn't turn up because they had a good run and got complacent. It happens a lot in football. I'm pretty certain that the players don't watch the pre-match interview. I'd be surprised if they watched any interviews.

From the hour or so of the match I witnessed, there was too many passengers last night. Dolan wasn't with it, neither Buckley or Szmodics, JRC was abysmal, Gallagher was the worst. It affected other players around them. For some of the above, this isn't their first rodeo, they've been doing it for years now. I think they thought it was going to be a stroll, got a bit too big for their boots, then they realised they needed to up their game and by that point it was too late. Much like they did with Rotherham and Wigan. That, and being stuck with Gallagher as our only centre forward means we're having to rely on the counter attack and if that doesn't work we don't have much else. Also, no tactics can stop several players putting up such a weak defence for their third goal. I've not seen anything as pathetic since the Kean days. If there was one moment in the match which encapsulated that the players weren't giving 100%, it was that. It was always going to happen, it was a good run while it lasted.

I'm pretty sure we weren't set up tactically to repeatedly lose possession and for some players to lazily stroll about generally not being arsed.

Like I said earlier, it would have ended up 2-2 but for Gallagher prancing about at the back.

I predicted a draw with this one as I thought there would be the same effort as the previous four games, so disappointed to come away with nothing in the manner they did. For anyone who doesn't know what the problem is, some of the players just can't be arsed sometimes and need a goal lead to motivate them. It happened under Mowbray and it's happening now. The positive is we've just had a decent run which I didn't think I'd ever see with these players. Had the recruitment team delivered in January we could have gone for it, as it is I think we'll fall short this season as we just don't have the players.

Them taking off Pearson changed things.

He scored, but if he'd been stronger at the other end it'd be 2-2 and we'd have a precious point.

When we have a bad game we're way too slow in the build up to goals. That, or every attack breaking down with Gallagher losing it. Gallagher has reverted back to his old self, we're crap up front again. We desperately need a couple of strikers. And with that, Gallagher scores.

I see a few lining up to discredit our recent good form 🤷‍♂️ It's been a shit night but you can't take away the fact we've been excellent for the past four of five games. Brereton with a consolation goal. Too late sadly.

Watching Mortons movement and reactions to being under pressure. It's as bad as his corners 😕

It's the players. Imagine having to manage this lot.

Someone else said it, they simply didn't fancy a cold night in Stoke.

I'll do it, you stupid silly c*nt Gallagher.