Signs of hope from point well made

The much-criticised Smith was a revelation as captain and was easily man of the match. Duff started promisingly and took his goal well, but seems content to hide in midfield too often - he has the skill and pace to beat defenders, yet rarely does it.

Gutiérrez was the same, until he started doing his dying swan impersonations in the second half. The minus points were Coloccini ambling about the place like a tourist in a rainy resort and Nolan, who has the pace of lava.

Hopefully Harper makes a full recovery from the only clean connection Shola got all afternoon.

Once again though, the real stars were the travelling support. Sadly they're going to have to get used to being bounced round the schedules like a Dad's Army repeat - when will TV companies ever take into consideration the thousands of people who travel all over the country following their team?

The departures of Martins, Bassong and Beye (to date) seem to have incurred a certain amount of weeping and wailing. Why? These individuals were part of a collective that formed the slowest, most gutless, uninterested bunch of lay-abouts ever to wear this shirt. All of a sudden they find themselves facing the prospect of playing Watford and Plymouth and decide that that is beneath them.

Bassong said he wanted to play in the Premier League - well, sunshine, if you and your cohorts had shown a bit more togetherness and bottle, you wouldn't have needed to leave.

You even refused to play for us so as to increase your chances of leaving. To me that is unforgivable.

Don't let the door hit you on your way out. Why do these people think they're good enough for the Premier League, when they couldn't keep us there in the first place?

Go spend your ill-gotten gains. Might I suggest some emperor's new clothes?