FL2: Torquay United v Morecambe - 4 Jan 2014

Hmmmmm. Certainly some positives, but at the end of the day we have played at home against a very beatable side and failed to win three points. Where have I heard that before? We had to work so very hard to get just one goal ahead. Morecambe had one shot (is that what the stats say? It felt like that) and scored one goal.

Not a bad performance, but certainly no better than Southend or the first half against Exeter. But I suppose people are more sympathetic to a manager who hasn't worn out the "played well, unlucky" line.

Every time I have seen the youths or reserves this season, they have lined up with a diamond in midfield. So no surprise to see Harrop bring that to the first team - Lathrope at the base, Bodin at the head with Mansell and Labadie either side. Benyon and Hawley ran the channels up top. After seeing Tonge and Cruise look totally washed out and lacking in energy at Home Park, I wasn't too surprised to see O'Connor and Nicholson at full back. A welcome return for Pearce at the back alongside Downes who continues to look worryingly immobile.

Does the return of Nicho indicate Harrop taking his side in the Knill v Nicho bustup? Or was it just a practical solution to an unfit first choice left back?

Talking to James before the game, he was worried that a diamond meant no protection for the full backs from wide midfielders. To my mind, our wide men have offered no protection at all all season, so better to have cover from behind from Lathrope sitting deep.

It worked o.k. Lathrope played very well - the role suits him down to the ground. Bodin enjoyed the freedom the system offered him, but crucially failed to convert any of the chances he had. O'Connor was excellent at right back and was a deserving man of the match. Twitter man of the match was Benyon. As Chelston says, "Twitter my arse".

We did look solid and Morecambe never looked like scoring - but of course they still did. Is it less painful for the equaliser to be a screamer in off the bar than someone strolling through a huge gap in our defence? Maybe - but it still isn't three points. And Mansfield, York and Northampton all go and rub it in by bagging three points - I doubt if any of them were as on top in their games as much as we were but as someone once said points win prizes.

Just 26 Morecambe fans, yet the gate still edged over the 2,000 mark. I think that is pretty good considering our recent record, the cost of xmas and the awful weather. The crowd was also very supportive - again it appears that smaller crowds get behind the team more than bigger crowds do.

Can anybody help? There's somebody over here doesn't know who he is!

Well I have got no idea who you are (it was you after all who asked Ditmar) and I genuinely don't want to know. Nothing in your posts has wound me up as we are all entitled to our views. One of your views I disagree with (that Knill should have been sacked) and another I strongly agree with (that Captain Fantastic should not only be dropped but should be out of the club during the January transfer window). Football is all about opinions. If it was not there would not be so many people able to make a living out of it on television and radio spouting absolute drivel for the consumption of the masses.

Keep posting away but don't expect never to be challenged. To disagree is not a sign of disrespect as long as it is always in an adult and polite manner.

... a game in which we dropped another 2 home points ... and don't call me Hector!