It’s far too much to say the players were on the beach or bottled it or whatever. They play every week against opponents who are on average paid at least double or triple what they get and are generally just quite a lot better.
When we’re at 9/10 or 10/10 and the opposition are 7/10 or 6/10 we can win games at this level, and through the players’ incredible efforts and a lot of luck that’s happened enough this season to give us a chance to stay up.
Occasionally, like today, it’s the other way round - Stoke got in front, their tails were up, they had the crowd behind them. It didn’t go our way and we lost our heads a bit. 3-0 probably flattered us but we have at least still got out of there just about maintaining our goal difference advantage.
It wasn’t a lack of effort, it’s just what happens to the poorest (financially) team in the division, usually more than the three or four times it’s happened to us. The players did their best like they always do. We just have to get behind them and hope they can dig something out of the remaining two games, but it is again going to be very difficult.
When we’re at 9/10 or 10/10 and the opposition are 7/10 or 6/10 we can win games at this level, and through the players’ incredible efforts and a lot of luck that’s happened enough this season to give us a chance to stay up.
Occasionally, like today, it’s the other way round - Stoke got in front, their tails were up, they had the crowd behind them. It didn’t go our way and we lost our heads a bit. 3-0 probably flattered us but we have at least still got out of there just about maintaining our goal difference advantage.
It wasn’t a lack of effort, it’s just what happens to the poorest (financially) team in the division, usually more than the three or four times it’s happened to us. The players did their best like they always do. We just have to get behind them and hope they can dig something out of the remaining two games, but it is again going to be very difficult.