Football: SORE DRAWS LEAVE A NASTY TASTE

WELL, we've arrived at the end of the Part 1 of the World Cup qualifying campaign not only seven matches unbeaten on the road, but with three points.

Back in January, we would been pleased with that..not now!

We know we could have won our last three games..Wales was a travesty, Azerbaijan was a nonense and as for Austria, well how did we only get a draw out of that.

Azerbaijan showed that we missed David Healy big time, and I'm sure had he been playing and not suspended then he would have stuck away one of the many chances we had.

Carlos Alberto, their coach, came out and called us and Wales s***, which is amazing really because Azerbaijan didn't have one single shot for Maik Taylor to save.

Austria in midweek was again a case of just not getting the luck we need. Due to the injuries we played Keith Gillespie as a wing back.

I know Keith hasn't been playing very much and has taken a lot of stick, but he was just outstanding.

It was a credit to him and he gave a real professional performance when we needed it.

But Keith also knows that he must start playing regularly for Leicester to safeguard his international future.

And if that means moving, then so be it, but you never know. Things might change now there is a change on the management front.

However, if there's one area I wish would change is the referees. Why on earth don't we get experienced World Cup referees for these match?

On Wednesday, we had an Australian referee who not only travelled around the world to get here, when he did he missed incidents like Schopp elbowing James Quinn right in front of the official.

Something has to be done to sort this. I know referees need experience, but officiating a World Cup qualifier should the pinnacle of your career..not a training ground.

We've now got time to reflect on the first half of our qualifying campaign and there's no question everyone is a lot more positive now than at the beginning of the year.

There is a real step in the team and also the fans, who were yet magnificent on Wednesday.

If we could just get that little bit of luck...

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