OTF

Meanwhile Miggy came on over the weekend, scored a belter of a goal and set up what should have been a beauty as well. And also Matt Ritchie came on - I take your point.

FIFA have had to diversify their money making now that it's not as easy to accept envelopes under the table to host the tournament in illogical and undeserved locations. More games, more money, simple.

Disappointing to see this sort of behaviour in here TBH.

If we had've lost or even drawn this game it would have been against the overall balance of play. They scored off a terrible defensive error and their next best chance was another poor defensive error, both of our goals were from quality play and we should have had a brilliant third had Botman not bottled the finish. The only important thing here was winning (and no injuries). We're back into the winning mentality and all that we should remember from this game is two fantastic goals and three points to leapfrog Liverpool. You're right that we now need to build on this with three points away to Forest, not an easy ask but we have to really fancy ourselves there.

He would never had gotten a 4 match ban as that would only apply for a secondary red that was awarded for violent conduct (such as that committed by Casemiro). If the ref gave Pope a red here I think it's still just a one match suspension even though it would be his second of the season, but I'd say the FA would have full discretion to increase the suspension just like they can for violent conduct. If the ref gave a penalty for that there's no way it would have been a red card as well. Upon rewatching it I do think it could easily have been given as a penalty and we'd have no defense as Pope moved into the path of their player deliberately rather that moving towards the ball. We got lucky because Raul made a bit of a meal of it and isn't a poster boy.

Does Graeme Jones give big Joe a kiss here? I'm all for it.

The win we needed so badly. We made it harder than we needed to but that doesn't matter now.

Botman not scoring has become a painful joke now.

More of this please

Fucking hell that was beautiful to watch. Almiron you little beauty.

Fucking hell, that was calamitous

Well done Pope, doing what he does best.

He's not been at his best, but that's not exactly a new development in his game unfortunately.

Semedo IMO lucky to have not got a yellow from his earlier foul on Isak (that was not called). Well played Murphy.

Don't think it's ever been fitness, more of a muscular issue.

Exactly, Howe has said many times that Isak hasn't been fit enough to start. Have to trust the medical staff on that front, as frustrating as it is when he has always impressed in his cameos. Pope has not been the same since his clanger against Liverpool.

Isak fucking loving it out there. ❤️

In retrospect Pope was very lucky, being at home and it being a less fancied opponent helped him. He made the decision to try to block the player instead of go to the ball, the Jiminez oversold it as well which further helped the decision to go our way. All cancelled out by a clear handball the other way at any length.

We've had a lot more balance in our attack with ASM wanting the ball down the left everything is no longer being syphoned constantly and predictably towards Trippier.

In Bruno's defense they've tried to mark him out of the game opening up space for others. Willock has been good as has Murphy, and Isak has been silky and timing his runs to perfection. Only really Longstaff who has looked clunky at times in midfield.

Wolves against the ropes, would be great to land one on their chin.

He's got that effortless speed, combined with an icy coolness under pressure.

That's a cracking header, especially for someone not renowned as being good in the air. Nice ball from Trippier of course as well.