Ipswich Town fan Russell Claydon backs the Blues in an office bet

We’ll be lucky to finish seventh at this rate...

That was one of a number of comments that started streaming out on social media and messageboard forums following Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Bristol City.

It may have been a lacklustre performance from a side we have come to start expecting much more from, and one off the back of Mick McCarthy’s selection policy at Old Trafford backfiring, but it was still a point against a side who are the only team to have beaten title contenders Middlesbrough. And as I wrote last week, the fact last year’s League One champions have struggled so far has taken me by surprise.

But that is not to bail out players, who clearly under-performed on Saturday and should never have got in a position where the home crowd were silenced after watching us concede two goals in four minutes.

The irony about this year’s side, so far, is that in almost total contrast to last season, it is our defence, which only features one change from 2014/15, which is looking like our Achilles’ heel.

But to suddenly write off our chances of finishing in the top six, when just a week or so ago we were just three points off the summit, is crazy.

This is why I’ve put my money where my mouth is by rising to an office bet with Colchester United fan Alex Moss. And I’m quietly confident he’ll regret it.

A survey this week highlighted our fans will clock up the fourth furthest distance (8,138 miles) in the Championship, with Saturday’s trip to Blackburn our single longest round trip (506 miles). They do deserve better than last week, and I expect them to get it.