Even if this was the worst side in the history of top flight football, the club would have to turn it around at some point. After the first half against Swansea it didn’t seem that time was approaching any time soon. After Andi’s goal the team did find a bit of confidence and almost left with the three points. When it seems like everything is going wrong sometimes a bit of luck is all you need to start to turn things around.

No question the late equalizer was a punch to the gut. Still, the way the team rallied to pick up its second point of the season from a losing position was encouraging.

The respite will continue as the team takes on lower league opposition in the cups in their next two matches. Saturday’s FA Cup opponents, Ipswich Town, are in a relegation battle of their own, only safe in the Championship by five points. If the past is any indication, Mick McCarthy will rotate his team, with league survival being his only focus, and the cup a distraction.

Villa, with a crucial League Cup semi-final first leg only three days later should play the kids as well. Not the young 20-something kids who have made up the majority of the squad as of late: the next batch of youngsters coming up. I’m not suggesting a Moscow-like team full of rookies, but it would be a good time to let Samir Carruthers, Derrick Williams, and the like a start in a competitive game. The two I named in particular play in positions where the team is thin at the moment. The match this weekend is as good a time as any to measure how ready they are to help the first team.

Ideally this would allow the young players we have been relying upon to be a bit fresher going into the Bradford game. Matthew Lowton and Christian Benteke are two players I’d rest for sure on Saturday. Benteke could be used as a substitute if we need a goal in the second half on Saturday. On Tuesday our strongest XI ideally would leave Bradford with at least a two goal advantage making the second leg a formality, with all due respect.

With the window open speculation is that Lambert has a £10m kitty. The priority has to be another central defender and steel in the midfield. The club need to find a big, rugged player to pair with Ashley Westwood. A player who is quick enough, and good enough with the ball to not be completely lost in a team playing flowing, attacking football. I have no idea who that player is who is realistic.

With our league position a quick loan for any player who can help us has to be considered even if for only half a season. Two years ago Kyle Walker did play as big of a role in keeping us up as Darren Bent.

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