STOKE [H] ...the verdict: play offs not out of the question

At 3.45 I looked at the league table and thought, hang on to the three points and we're just 4 points off the play offs but the eventual defeat and aspects of our performance sees us looking over our shoulders rather than upwards.

A flat atmosphere came to life with Scott's shot that was saved then the Wells, Weimann 1-2 that saw the Austrian hit the post when a goal would have been a just outcome. The goal from Wells, his 8th, was down to a superb cross from Pring. More of this please

45+2 and King loses out in a challenge that a recognised central defender would have cleared and the same naturally attacking midfielder hashed his clearance on the hour with James unable to reach the ball and the Stoke striker pounced to score the winner.

We had chances to draw level but never tested the keeper.

The main talking point however was the content of Pearson's post match interview with BBC's Ali Durden in which our manager publicly threw under the bus the defender he paid £1.6M for with his "need to have players I can trust" comment as justification for selecting King.

Atkinson & Klose didn't make the matchday 18, Tanner made way for Vyner when it would have made more sense to play Tanner at RWB rather than Weimann. But then how do you accommodate the Austrian without leaving out Scott or one of Conway or Wells.

Ian & DaveP analyse the situation and are in agreement in their lack of confidence in Pearson to spend wisely any money he might have in January.