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STEVEN BATTERSBY'S FAN'S VIEW: Some sobering thoughts ahead of the festive season

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karlypants

karlypants
Nat Lofthouse
Nat Lofthouse

I had, perhaps too optimistically, hoped to bring us all some glad tidings commensurate with the fast approaching festive period.

Sadly, there was an all-too familiar outcome as Wanderers slumped to their ninth defeat in the last 12 fixtures.

In truly Siberian conditions the team ran a top-two opponent close for the second week running. But not close enough. Our home form is now bordering on the cataclysmic and the shot-free environment does not bode well for the weeks ahead.

The game had been fairly even until the 66th minute when an incisive pass and crisp finish from substitute Patrick Bamford resulted in the only goal of what had become a dreary, anonymous, encounter.

Given our impotency in the creative and goal-scoring departments, somehow we all knew in that one moment our seventh home defeat of this increasingly wretched season was now more probability than possibility.

There were some decent individual performances, primarily from the defensive quartet but midfield lacked any semblance of creativity despite the hard running of Joe Williams and Josh Vela and Erhun Oztumer was introduced way too late to influence play in that area.

Up front Josh Magennis looks a pale shadow of his August self and is now really struggling to establish himself at this level.

Additionally our wide men, in the absence of the suspended Sammy Ameobi, failed to produce yet again.

We can point to yet another poor piece of officiating by the referee to deny us what looked a good penalty shout, but Mr Jones was not responsible for the tally of no shots on target from 90 minutes of football.

In what had been another tumultuous and controversial week off the field perhaps some supporters had expected a swell of indignation and anger at the game. Maybe it was the face-numbing wind and driving rain, but the mood was more one of apathy and resignation.

The manager has tried every formation and selection variation in the book but more quality is needed if we are to survive and for that we need money.

So where do we go from here? We reach the half way point of the season next week. At that stage last season we had 19 points. Another defeat at Brentford, to a team losing games regularly since the departure of Dean Smith, and we would be stuck on 18 points.

A very sobering thought as we contemplate our turkey dinner.

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