AFC Bournemouth 2-2 Hartlepool The season comes to an end three games earlier than we had hoped, and in the customary style. For the third time in seven years we miss out on the playoffs by failing to get the result we needed in the last game of the season.

It had all been going rather well for the first 70 minutes, but when the second Pools goal went in the players dropped their heads and ran out of ideas, much as they had been doing during the last five home games when we failed to pick up a point. And that was the real reason we missed out - you can't go on a losing run like that without paying for it in the end.

So where from here?

It's probably best to let the dust settle before specualting too much. Inevitably there are a handful of morons on the Rivals messageboard calling for SOD to go. Yes he can be frustrating, and he certainly should have made his substitutions earlier yesterday, but I truly suspect it won't be until he does leave that people realise exactly what a good job he has done. I hope he stays; although a mini-clear out of some sort could be what is needed.

What is undeniably needed is someone to add a bit of steel to the side. when we look back on the season in the next few weeks the most telling statistic may be not those five home defeats in a row, but but 35 bookings from 46 games. How many times have opposition managers said we play nice football but are too lightweight? This is the one thing we really need to change.  ¶ 2:32 PM

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