Whose horse is giving the Black Cats a run for their L1 money?
tactics at the Kassam Stadium in August.
The Brewers were ruthless on the break, running out 4-2 winners, while they were also awkward customers at the Pirelli, where United needed a stoppage-time strike to salvage a point.
– Simon Grayson was decent enough to admit as much in his postmatch interviews. How Blackpool ended up winning 2-1 against the U’s at Bloomfield Road remains an unsolved mystery.
– Gareth Ainsworth has worked miracles at Wycombe, but it’s hard to see past Mark Robins. Amid all the chaos off the pitch which effectively means they play away from home every week, he’s quietly got on with it and built a young, exciting team who are five points clear at the top with a game in hand.
– It’s got to be Paul Lambert at Ipswich Town. The play-offs would have been a disappointment for them, so to be tenth is a long way short. In both games against Oxford they were very underwhelming.
Neil Allen Portsmouth The News
- Darren Ferguson, Peterborough. It was pitched as the battle of the promotion contenders when the sides met in March but was a hopeless mismatch. The Posh produced the best display I have witnessed this season, inspired by the classy Ivan Toney and pacy Siriki Dembele. With Sammie Szmodics and attacking wingbacks, they surely must be unstoppable on their day.
- Graham Couglan, Bristol Rovers. Hosts Bristol Rovers were 2-0 down with 78 minutes remaining and were so lacklustre that many home supporters headed home early, having accepted defeat. Then the improbable comeback arrived, with the leveller three minutes into time added on. To make it even more gut wrenching, the equaliser was an own goal off the head of keeper Craig MacGillivray after team-mate Ross McCrorie kneed a Gas corner against his own crossbar, making it 2-2.
- Mark Robins, Coventry City. It’s impossible not to have a sneaking regard for Gareth Ainsworth’s continued overachievement at Wycombe, despite their tiresome time-wasting antics. However, Mark Robins has done magnificently at Coventry, particularly considering their relocation to St Andrew’s and the accompanying supporter boycott which renders it devoid of any atmosphere or intimidation.
Lambert, Ipswich Town. Lambert’s reputation as an heroic firefighter dispatched to save clubs is somewhat bewildering. Admittedly, it was a tough job he inherited at Ipswich yet, following seven months in charge, relegation and buying fans free pints, it appeared ludicrous he was rewarded with a five-year contract. After a bright start they have folded dramatically and now don’t even appear playoff candidates. Ipswich fans don’t need reminding that’s not good enough. Luke Cawdell Gillingham Kent Online
- Karl Robinson, Oxford United. Gillingham bumped into an in-form Oxford United and were blown away. The game came days after United’s 4-0 win over West Ham in the League Cup and a week after scoring six past Lincoln. They were rampant. It was 3-0 at the break and it could have been a lot more. Gills’ only comfort was that they managed to subdue them in the second half, with no more damage done.
- Glyn Hodges, AFC Wimbledon. Wimbledon have done the double over Gillingham this season but the first game, in particular, was about as onesided as it gets. Twenty-two attempts at goal and the Gills just couldn’t score. Former player Scott Wagstaff got the winner against the run of the play, taking the points in a 1-0 win. Gills’ afternoon was made worse with a stoppagetime dismissal as their frustration boiled over.
- Mark Robins, Coventry City. Coventry’s issues with their ground took the focus off the players and the manager and Mark Robins has gone about his business in great fashion. They have come through a sticky spell around October and looked to be warming up nicely before the league was halted. If the league is ever resumed then they look on course for promotion.
- Paul Lambert, Ipswich Town. Gillingham fans were gutted to see goalkeeper Tomas Holy head for Ipswich in the summer, lured for bigger money and the prospect of a promotion season. Many clubs must have been looking over at Ipswich’s buying power with envy but despite a decent start, it’s all gone wrong for Lambert now. They might even finish behind Gillingham this season!