[baggietrousers]

Pub team defending!!!

[drewks]

Fork.

[Baggie_One]

Usual defending

Pity really as played well

That’s Johnstone’s downfall, England’s number one would have screamed “mine” for that - taking control of the situation. Great shot stopper but situations like that let him down

[Slick_Footwork]

Typically I'd be gutted, conceding such a soft goal in the 92nd minute against a rival.

But to be honest, our performance was dreadful today, we got what we deserved...

It's pathetic playing backs to the wall stuff for 40 minutes against a bog standard Villa side.

Far too many players who are way out of their depth. Too many content with just hoofing the ball anywhere when they have the time to take a touch and pass it out to start a counter attack. For me, when you don't have the calmness to know how much time you have on the ball, you're never going to make it at this level and that's why the likes of Gallagher have no chance of ever playing for Chelsea.

Villa were there to be picked off but our players were like rabbits in the headlights just punting it anywhere hoping to hold 2-1 for 45 minutes. With our defensive record, it was highly likely there would be a cock up when we're under the cosh for that long. The irony is, it seemed we had luckily weathered all of their proper chances and then concede from nothing. It was very much the Johnstone of old and unfortunately that probably just took a few million off his value. We really need that cash to buy some players who can actually play as well to replace dross like Furlong and the loanees.

A few of the lads did okay - Pereira played well, Diagne held the ball up well today and AMN got through the yards, Towsend really tried against the faster and technically superior Traore - but generally there are far too many Championship players in our side.

Would've been nice to see the game off to get a few digs in at the lads at work, but it would only be a temporary reprieve anyway with that level of performance.

All in all a fair result, neither team scored a proper goal.

[bomberbrown1968]

Am I the only one who thought it was Bartleys to deal with? and no blame attached to Johnstone

[Slick_Footwork]

Am I the only one who thought it was Bartleys to deal with?  and no blame attached to Johnstone

Probably

In all seriousness, I thought Bartley was to blame also, but Johnstone was the main culprit as it was easy for him to just walk off his line and collect it.

After he doesn't, Bartley should've dealt with it better but it's more difficult to deal with when it's at chest height than just in the goalkeepers arms.

But at the end of the day, is it a big shock we're so dreadful at the back when we have the exact same defence that wasn't particularly good in the Championship last year? Leeds conceded 10 goals less than us last year and added 2 centre backs at a cost of £33m while we added Kipre and Ivanovic at the cost of £1m and sold Hegazi, who was probably our best defender. So we're probably weaker now than when we got promoted and we couldn't defend last season.

Luck plays a part in football but you get what you deserve in this game and our transfer dealings this season have been a joke. Buying 4 wingers in the summer and then not strengthening the defence or defensive midfield at all until January. If Dowling still had a job next season, he's a lucky man.

[Baggiebob(BBB)]

2 minutes, 2 points. Not much too now look forward to, except tier two. Too bad.

[Dingle-Dingle]

That`s it then. 1-0 down and Mike Dean takes over as ref. Fate sealed. DD

[talkSAFT]

Added time......any chance of abandonment?

[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

At Christmas I'd have snapped your hand off for four points off that lot, especially in a season when they could (and probably should) have smashed us twice. Doesn't do the supposed survival bid much good, but I think most of us gave up on the last hope of that with the Villa equaliser last Sunday.

Pride more or less intact; now to get the inevitable over and done with, and start planning for next season.