BACK TO EARTH

Yesterday was hugely disappointing. The team never got going and neither did the support of the away following. It's perhaps strange that more of an atmosphere was created by the 250 odd fools that made it down to Plymouth that Tuesday night. Bournemouth were decent, seemingly unaffected by the loss of their manager, and they put us under real pressure - certainly compared to when they (Bournemouth and the officiating team) blagged a point at the Withers earlier in the season.

Luckily yesterday, the other teams that have threatened to overturn our lead all season barely profited from our lack of point gathering plus we have now broken this time at the top of the table club record. A football team's worth of other observations from the match and other results in our League...

1) The refereeing team was awful. First half, the linesman towards the away end missed several occasions Bournemouth were offside. In the second half, he flagged everything. Including that Murray header that gave us a glimpse of an undeserved point. A message to the referee: tackles from behind have been a foul for a long time, whether the ball is won or not.

2) Don't read too much into the fact Glenn didn't start. We all know by now that Gus loves to use the squad when we have a midweek game and I'm sure the goalscoring genius will be back on Tuesday. If £1m is not enough for Bennett, then we're sure to keep Glenn - even if it means losing him for nothing come the end of the season.

3) Bournemouth were good, disciplined and didn't play into our hands as most others have done this season. It will not be a surprise should they be there or there abouts come the end of the season.

4) Nobody wants to catch us. Every time we offer up the chance to do so (and including that November/December barren spell) everybody else mucks it up.

5) Bournemouth, you may name a stand after your successful player Steve Fletcher. Just please don't make us look at a giant pictured face of his on top of said stand.

6) We could do with keeping up our scintillating home form on Tuesday.

7) Watford in the cup next week will be a tough match. They have won seven in eight, are a division above us and we need to play a lot better than yesterday to have any real chance of progressing. Ticker tape (ripped up newspaper) and balloons are required.

8) I promise not to keep talking up our having won the title in January. There is a long way to go and the chances of us winning the FA Cup are also remote. I now accept these points.

9) A theory being banded about is that we will only need 82 points for automatic promotion. We currently have 46 points - the 36 point countdown begins on Tuesday. GP wants 92, so once the 36 point countdown is completed, we'll have a ten point countdown for the title.

10) When the Albion lose, it is impossible not to strop like an annoying Arsenal/Chelsea/Manchester United supporter from Hassocks.

11) Thanks to all those that purchased TSLR026 yesterday from our slightly inebriated selling staff.