For the past year, a key strength of our has been an ability, regardless of how we were playing, to beat all those teams we were expected to beat. It looks like we have lost that now with the poor performances leading to dropped points against Southampton and now Stoke.

I understand the ref may have got it wrong with the pel, but so what? A draw was no good either, and you aren't going to win if you score zero goals.

It seems a forlorn hope - but all our eggs are now in the FA Cup basket.