No matter how bad the result, I usually manage to shake it off by the following day and start looking forward to the next match...not this time. I can't believe how bad we were last night. Apart from events on the pitch, the sad thing is that we were starting to slowly cultivate the grassroots of new support with the roof and resultant improvement in atmosphere. In recent matches, the Clayton End had started to look more crowded, with a rise in the number of youngsters on. Last night, there were large gaps on the terraces again and it was, by and large, back to us old faithfuls. Cynical chants like "1-0 and we 'messed' it up" and booing at the end from the most loyal supporters in football prove just how deep the disenchantment now runs. Unless Coley changes his tactics and desists from stubbornly playing the likes of Branch and Williams who obviously aren't up to it, I really fear for the future.
