COLUMNIST KEN BUCKLEY

From my seat: Liverpool (H)

No points toward top four finish or indeed Europe. I saw the line up and despaired... is this the best we have to face the Champions elect? I wondered. Well for much of the game we gave as good as we got and more. We were a tad on the backfoot for 20 mins or so then we took control as the players sensed (as I did) that this Liverpool team was there for the taking. A Sammie classic og ensured we went to the break one up and in the ascendency much to the delight of the gathered Blue hoards.

The Liverpool midfield was no better than ours and when you can say that about the opposition then you have to be in with a shout. This fact was to be our downfall as two poor midfields cancel each other out and then there is too much of God and luck and the decisions of officialdom.

What to make of the equaliser...? Hibbert left on his own as we take a corner; I thought even kids were taught to have at least two back in case of the quick counter. As the ball was played upfield, should Hibbert have attacked it there? Normally, yes... but he realised he had no cover and if the fifty-fifty had gone against him the runner was through so he chose to try to hold until cover arrived. The sad fact is it didn't in sufficient time and the outcome was not only a penalty but a three-game suspension.

Who's tactics are these that put us in that position? And in many posts Hibbert will get the blame when it was patently poor defending as a team that cost us.

Ten men and 1-1 as a result of the pen, they didn't hurt us and indeed didn't stop us having attacks, so there was the prospect of at least a point. The manager tinkered and tried to keep us with legs and it succeeded well until the board showed 3 mins added time... when, for some reason, we abandoned our resolute ten-man strategy for one of panic that presumably was designed to see out those minutes but backfired spectacularly by getting us into a defensive mode that paid little attention to playing further up the field and using clock rundown in benign areas to at least salvage a point. This mayhem resulted in another penalty and another right back being sidelined for three matches as well as sending me home in a less than receptive mood.

What did I learn from today? Against a multi-million-spending outfit we more than matched them. So much was there both in defence and attack to hurt and defeat many a team including the best...

BUT ? without that creative, driving, prompting midfield, we are going to continue to rely on God and luck...

BUT ? If we can solve the problem that is midfield then I believe we can progress and maybe to a level that matches most.

On reflection today I thought Lescott was our MotM and indeed the best player on the pitch but in reality to have your left-back accorded that accolade at home is less than satisfying. We lost a Derby today which always leaves me 'As sick as a parrot' but if that's what the rich and mighty have to offer in opposition then I am encouraged and hope that would-be investors will yet come to Bill's aid for whatever you may think...

And I respect all opions; I believe we are close to having a competitive highish finish side with the inclusion of two competent midfielders to back up Tommy and Timmy along with a wide man. Competition in midfield is I believe our next step . Larissa next in our Euro adventure and, whatever the result, I hope our leaders take on board just what is needed for us to continue participation on all fronts and then we may be able to take true stock on our present manager's credentials.

In short, let's get away from 'We go with what we have got' to 'We have got what we need' In a derby defeat, it's easy to slate all and sundry... I choose not to but ask those that matter to give due consideration to the next step (whatever that may mean to individual ego's) because I can almost smell 1984... but it will take courage.

Still... back again Thursday and may T, T and V be ready for a runout. UP THE BLUES

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