our next opponents played well yesterday...

[lucky green trainers 0]

the sunday match reports today made for unpleasant reading - not only because of the referring farce that unfolded yesterday at dear ole carra - but also because of the good displays of our next 3 opponents...gulp[:(]

there''s lots of twists and truns to come, but we must stop leaking goals to give us a chance - clean sheets will provide at least a draw...hope this new cb loanee from stoke is good enough,,,anyway - some excerpts reproduced below...

Reading 0-0 Preston: Happy Irvine backs Royals for top flight

  Preston boss Alan Irvine could afford to be generous last night after taking a point off Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

He tipped the Royals to win promotion even though Steve Coppell is currently having to cope with a goal draught.

"I

fancy Reading to go up," said Irvine. "Their record at home is terrific

and there will be goals in their team. They''ve got good strikers in

Lita and Doyle and I think they are a real threat."

But Irvine

could afford to be generous after his own players had done enough to

confirm their own potential to make the play-offs.

Preston, led brilliantly by Frenchman Youl Mawene, extended Reading''s run to a month and four matches without scoring a goal.

In that period they may have beaten leaders Wolves, but that was only courtesy of a lucky own goal.

And

with Mawene in total control of a solid defence Preston never looked

like letting Reading end their dismal run. The Royals had two chances

in the first half but each time they were denied brilliantly by Andy

Lonergan.

He positioned himself superbly to push aside a

fierce angled drive from Jimmy Kebe. And when Leroy Lita burst clear of

the visitors'' defence he closed him down and got his body in the way of

a fierce shot.

Reading''s efforts in front of goal in the

second half were even fewer. Lonergan had to get his hands to a

flashing header from Kevin Doyle but in front of him the pressure was

soaked up by Mawene and the rest of the defence.

birmingham 1 - burnley 1

The conquerors of the mighty Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, Fulham and WBA

in cup competitions this season were guilty of firing costly blanks

against Birmingham at St Andrew''s.

Coyle was left frustrated as Kevin Phillips nicked a point for Birmingham that they didn''t deserve.

The first half was so one sided that it must have been an embarrassment to Birmingham boss Alex McLeish and his side.

Burnley

were considerably more exciting than Brum, whose confidence was

shattered by Burnley''s opening bombardment which rocked them back on

their heels and left them with a recovery job after only two minutes.

Burnley manager Owen Coyle: "We didn''t take our chances and we then made a terrible error at the back.

"Usually coming to Birmingham you would be pleased to leave with a point. I

have to say I am not. I am disappointed as we were deserving of three points.

"The first half was as good as we have played this season - including all the

games we have won against Premier League teams."

coventry 2 - wolves 1

Coventry manager Chris Coleman:

"When you think you are about to have the result taken away from you, it makes it so much sweeter when you win.

"Had we drawn the game it wouldn''t have been my players'' fault, it would have been the referee''s, because it''s not a penalty.

"I have seen it again and I don''t know how he can give it because he is behind a crowd of players.

"I was proud of my team. I thought they were tremendous and produced a really gritty performance."

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy: "I think we deserved to

get out of jail for our second half performance but we didn''t deserve

to get out of jail for the way we defended.

"We are letting goals in far too easily and if we continue to do that we won''t progress any further.

"In terms of effort the players can''t be knocked or in the way

they played especially in the second half when we had enough chances.

"The opportunity to win something is in reach for them but they

will never forgive themselves if we let it out of our grasp, that''s for

sure."

[lucky green trainers 0]

the sunday match reports today made for unpleasant reading - not only because of the refereeing farce that unfolded yesterday at dear ole carra - but also because of the good displays of our next 3 opponents...gulp[:(]

there''s lots of twists and turns to come, but we must stop leaking goals to give us a chance - clean sheets will provide at least a draw...hope this new cb loanee from stoke is good enough,,,anyway - some excerpts reproduced below...

Reading 0-0 Preston: Happy Irvine backs Royals for top flight

  Preston boss Alan Irvine could afford to be generous last night after taking a point off Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

He tipped the Royals to win promotion even though Steve Coppell is currently having to cope with a goal draught.

"I

fancy Reading to go up," said Irvine. "Their record at home is terrific

and there will be goals in their team. They''ve got good strikers in

Lita and Doyle and I think they are a real threat."

But Irvine

could afford to be generous after his own players had done enough to

confirm their own potential to make the play-offs.

Preston, led brilliantly by Frenchman Youl Mawene, extended Reading''s run to a month and four matches without scoring a goal.

In that period they may have beaten leaders Wolves, but that was only courtesy of a lucky own goal.

And

with Mawene in total control of a solid defence Preston never looked

like letting Reading end their dismal run. The Royals had two chances

in the first half but each time they were denied brilliantly by Andy

Lonergan.

He positioned himself superbly to push aside a

fierce angled drive from Jimmy Kebe. And when Leroy Lita burst clear of

the visitors'' defence he closed him down and got his body in the way of

a fierce shot.

Reading''s efforts in front of goal in the

second half were even fewer. Lonergan had to get his hands to a

flashing header from Kevin Doyle but in front of him the pressure was

soaked up by Mawene and the rest of the defence.

birmingham 1 - burnley 1

The conquerors of the mighty Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs, Fulham and WBA

in cup competitions this season were guilty of firing costly blanks

against Birmingham at St Andrew''s.

Coyle was left frustrated as Kevin Phillips nicked a point for Birmingham that they didn''t deserve.

The first half was so one sided that it must have been an embarrassment to Birmingham boss Alex McLeish and his side.

Burnley

were considerably more exciting than Brum, whose confidence was

shattered by Burnley''s opening bombardment which rocked them back on

their heels and left them with a recovery job after only two minutes.

Burnley manager Owen Coyle: "We didn''t take our chances and we then made a terrible error at the back.

"Usually coming to Birmingham you would be pleased to leave with a point. I

have to say I am not. I am disappointed as we were deserving of three points.

"The first half was as good as we have played this season - including all the

games we have won against Premier League teams."

coventry 2 - wolves 1

Coventry manager Chris Coleman:

"When you think you are about to have the result taken away from you, it makes it so much sweeter when you win.

"Had we drawn the game it wouldn''t have been my players'' fault, it would have been the referee''s, because it''s not a penalty.

"I have seen it again and I don''t know how he can give it because he is behind a crowd of players.

"I was proud of my team. I thought they were tremendous and produced a really gritty performance."

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy: "I think we deserved to

get out of jail for our second half performance but we didn''t deserve

to get out of jail for the way we defended.

"We are letting goals in far too easily and if we continue to do that we won''t progress any further.

"In terms of effort the players can''t be knocked or in the way

they played especially in the second half when we had enough chances.

"The opportunity to win something is in reach for them but they

will never forgive themselves if we let it out of our grasp, that''s for

sure."