‘The door to the play-offs is still ajar’

The fact that we’re talking about a point on the road in disappointed tones is a positive sign. Given that we’ve forgotten how to win outside the West Country, many would have taken another draw to go with the previous three games, which also ended in stalemate.

But this was a clear opportunity to get the proverbial monkey off our backs and leave an opposition ground with maximum points. And, it must be said, it was an opportunity wasted. Port Vale offered nothing going forwards, by all accounts, and we’re sat there waiting to be beaten. Their best attacking threat was our debutant left-back Bob Harris, who endured somewhat of a principium horribilis when his exquisite side-foot shot looped over Joe Lumley to give the home side an unexpected lead.

Recent performances appear to show that we’ve lost our way in terms of attacking. Obviously, losing a proven goal scorer like ‘The former Forest Green striker’ (or TFFGS for short) has had a huge effect. (And no, his real name will never again be mentioned on this page). But, as revealed by the ownership recently, Jermaine Easter’s absence from the first team appears at least in part to be caused by his agent being the same agent who gleefully filled his pockets when persuading TFFGS to move south. 

I fully support the club in that: why should we do business with those who betray us? But it effectively leaves us two strikers short.

Additionally, we’re showing signs of a lack of penetration from wide areas – many fans are beginning to see Byron Moore as a failed signing, and Cristian Montano is struggling to get game time. If you want a yardstick of the strength of feeling about Moore in particular, the guys over at Gas Cast sum up the mood well.

This explains why Stuart Sinclair keeps popping up in wide areas. One of the reasons the beardy one is so well-liked is his versatility: he even put in a shift at right back when Joe Partington picked up a knock at the weekend. But a wide man he is not. 

Of course, the mercurial Billy Bodin is the exception to the rule. He’s the only attacking player in the squad that’s firing on all cylinders at present. But, such is our lack of form and quality going forward at present, we’re increasingly reliant on moments of individual magic, like Bodin’s equaliser on Saturday, or Chris Lines’ stupendous Cruyff turn and shot the other week. If we are to keep the season alive, while the door to the play-offs is still slightly ajar, this needs to change. 

Once upon a time, a manager would bring in a loan signing to pep things up. But our ghastly Bond villain overlords at FIFA have closed the ’emergency loan’ loophole that our lower leagues used to shore up squads outside of January.

Sadly, the days of loaning in the likes of big Dennis Bailey, and more recently Rory Gaffney, to keep the front line fresh outside of the transfer window are over. But, for my 2p, we need either a wide man, or a striker, or both. If you’re out of contract and can fire us into the top six, bring your boots on Saturday and I’ll gently persuade someone to let you in.

Two of the hardest tasks of the season lie in wait. Scunthorpe’s march to League One continues at the Mem on Saturday. They’ve had a dire February, picking up two points from a possible 12. We weren’t a million miles off them back at their place, but that was on opening day, some three goalkeepers ago. I’d back us for a point at least.

Then, Bolton away. Again, the corresponding fixture was back in the summer haze of August, and our only crime in losing to them at home back then was to show them too much respect.  

On paper they’re the favourites, by virtue of league position, our inability to win away, and what is essentially a Championship-quality squad turning out for the Trotters. But they were somehow capable of losing at home to Swindon not too long ago, and if that proves anything, it’s that the game is not played on paper. 

Read more: ‘A year is a short time in football’