The View From Churchmans

Odd to leave the ground after a victory feeling rather deflated, while listening to the losers having a bit of a party. But good luck to Hull: in a season where their playoff opponents will be a horrible team (Watford), a "how on earth did they get there?" team (Palace) and a team with a disgraceful negative goal difference (Bristol), they're by far the best of an undeserving ... More...

Well, the scoreline may have only been one goal better than Wednesday night, but the performance was in a totally different class. Indeed, if it wasn't for the problem which has characterised the whole season - our inability to actually stick the ball in the net - we would have won this four-, five- or six-one, and we'd have deserved it too. Norwich were awful, and we played ... More...

As a home season ticket holder who hasn't been able to obtain the domestic pass-outs this season to be able to go to away games, I know I don't fully appreciate just how bad it's been for the away diehards this season. But I think I got a flavour of it in this match. To say we were rubbish was an understatement. The away regulars will nod sagely ... More...

Two points well and truly down the drain. We had the chances to win this one comfortably, even ignoring the ref denying us a clear "over the line" effort and an even clearer penalty. If we don't make the playoffs, the big regrets this season will be the chances squandered, rather than (as has been normal over the past ten years), mistakes at the back. It's a long ... More...

If anyone was wondering after the Barnsley debacle whether we're back to the old routine (invincible at home, awful away), the answer may well be that we are. Because this was a cracking display against a strong team let down only by their inability to create chances. Yet we controlled most of the game, missed several glorious chances, and looked comfortable even when Charlton had periods of pressure. We ... More...

My goodness, it was cold tonight. Still, with over twenty thousand in the ground and very mediocre opponents, Town really ought to have been able to have taken my mind off my freezing extremities. They didn't. Not even remotely. Jim said afterwards: "Overall it wasn't a game for the purists." I assume by 'purists' he means anyone who wants to see even a smattering of half-decent football. We ... More...

This one couldn't have been any more comfortable if it had been given a pipe and slippers and offered the Parker-Knoll in front of a roaring fire. Apart from the last couple of minutes, of course, when it all went a bit silly. We could - and should - have had several more, against an ordinary team hampered by what seemed like their entire defence excusing themselves with ... More...

No sooner does the away record go than - with crushing inevitability - the home one goes too. To be honest, I doubt it’ll do us too much harm to no longer be perceived as unbeatable at Portman Road - teams may come and try to play a bit more, at least. And it’s probably no disgrace to lose to what will surely prove to be the strongest ... More...

A friend summarised this match as "odd" and in many ways, that was true. Plymouth rode their luck, but we were our own worst enemy. Over two dozen attempts on goal, sure, but only one or two required heroics from their keeper or defenders, and the two best saves of the game came from Alexander at the other end. The rest of our opportunities were just wasted. So ... More...

A decent game between two teams who both currently look like they deserve to be in the top six at the end of the season. Such as been our home form that we're disappointed with a home draw now, even against opponents above us in the table. But to be honest, Stoke's strengths include the sort of physical presence we always struggle against; couple that with their truly ... More...

Oh not again. Anyone commenting on this match is going to seem like a stuck record. Walters on the left two home games ago: bad idea. Repeating the experiment last home game: infuriatingly stupid. Persisting for a third great match: unforgivably naive and stubborn. One or two players may not have been that great this afternoon, but it's Jim who has to stand up and take the blame for ... More...

Some comedy defending made this one seem a lot closer than it should have been - no matter how hard players work, overcoming two gifted goals is always going to be a challenge. But hey, we did it, and not only did we get over that hurdle, but we also overcame what surely must be the final time we see this awful experiment of wasting Jonny Walters on ... More...

A rather disjointed performance on a very cold night, where the result rather flattered us and the breaks (well, one in particular) went our way. Fortunately the opposition were pretty dire, so the win was deserved, but we're going to have to do better than this to stay in the right half of the table. A few changes, most forced, meant that we played pretty much 4-2-4 with Haynes ... More...

I can't remember how long it's been since we had a goal-less league game at FPR. One moment please. (Sounds of interweb being consulted). Well, it would appear that it was well over a year ago, at the start of last season. And the one before that was in 2003. So you could say this afternoon was something of a rarity. But it should also be said that ... More...

This 100% home record has to end soon, or else in the stands we're going to be in danger of taking for granted being the country's most spoiled supporters. In any one of the past few seasons, a comfortable two-nil home win against Southampton would have been extremely satisfactory, but this one left most of us with a "could do better" feeling. I promise I'm not complaining about ... More...