So frustrating: City 1-1 Burnley

Let's get this out of the way. This was a better game than Saturday's against Scunthorpe (though that wouldn't have been hard). In the first 20 mins it was actually quite exciting - open and fast. Then City retreated into a shell, forgot how to pass,forgot how to hold the ball, and were very poor. But Just on the half, Bothroyd dinked a delightful cross over, Chopra 4 yards out should have headed it in, but took it on the chest before smashing it home. 1-0 at half time, and City would have been very relived, Burnley, very disappointed.

In the second period, City again were far from their best, and Burnley grew in confidence. They were playing the best football, and it seemed only a matter of time before the got a really good chance. Inevitably, it was City old boy Steve Thompson, who couldn't hit the net with us if he was a yard out, who did just that, coming off the bench to glance a corner in at the near post through what looked like at least three City bodies.

Dave Jones had left Bellamy and JET on the bench in favour of Whitts and Burke, but Bellamy came on in the second period, but really didn't threaten too much.

This was City's game in hand, and we didn't make the most of it. Sure it's a point, but when defender wins MoTM (again), you have to wonder why your red hot strike force isn't getting the awards.

Hudson again immense at CB. He and Keinan have formed a decent partnership very quickly, and the defence looks strong now. But Ramsey was quiet after a great opening half hour, Olifanjana's second touch so often let him down and his distribution was poor, Whittingham looked lazy, and Bothroyd spent about 50% of the match on the floor. So often he's the difference. Tonight he just looked precious.

Burnley in contrast looked sharp, eager, willing to play, make runs, and for a side with relatively few "stars" and I say that with no disrespect, they looked a good side. Too often we still look like a side of 11 players, rather than 11 players who are a side.

Ref. Awful again.

Forest on Saturday away, and Leicester at home next Tuesday. Massive matches. Ordinarily I'd say we need 4 points from 6 from those two, and we really, really need something from the Forest game. Is it too much to hope for an away win? Then we need all 3 from the Foxes game. So 6 from 6 really. Huge ask, but it's getting to the business end of the season, and time will start running out very soon for those clubs aspiring for automatic promotion. We can't keep syaing we've got the squad if we're not getting the results.

Come on Bluebirds. Time to up the gears.