Any optimistic hopes for the day were dashed before lunch when word came through that City and WBA had agreed a fee for the sale of Robert Earnshaw. Not even a farewell appearance as Earnie was already heading for the Midlands. As it turns out at the end of the day Earnie has not completed a move yet with talks said to have broken down.
It seems inevitable though that he will not pull on a City shirt again. He's close to a move to West Brom but Everton are said to still be involved with a possible late bid. So on we go to yesterdays game. Campbell had the chance to prove he can fill Earnie's boots. I'm sorry to say that on the evidence shown yesterday afternoon he would struggle to do up Earnie's laces. Campbell quite anonymous.
His strike partner Alan Lee was far more industrious but with the same end result. No goals. The pattern was all too familiar. City dominate possession but fail to crack open the opposition. They get a breakaway chance and stick the ball in the net. We can't say we weren't warned.
Ade Akinbiyi smacked the post after breaking free but it was his strike partner Gifton Noel Williams who scored after being set up by Akinbiyi a few mins later. From that moment on Stoke were happy to defend with 11 men behind the ball. City must have had 80% possession but could not find a way through.
16 City efforts on goal to 6 of Stokes. They got the important statistic though, a goal. Close on 13,000 came to Ninian Park and even at the end there was not too much bad feeling. Maybe the fact that the performance was better than previous games (although we still can't score and still can't defend).
So here we are in the bottom 3, three defeats in a row and an away trip to Wigan tomorrow. Last time we went to the JJB we got thumped 3 - 0. A similar scoreline this time wouldn't be any big surprise. Prove me wrong Bluebirds.