Simon Sephton, Fans' diarist, Friday February 3 2012, 11.00am
Well its been a mixed week all told. We are back in the relegation zone with results not going our way elsewhere. Add to that, a poor performance against Sheffield Wednesday.
On the plus side, Michael O'Connor didn't leave despite transfer deadline day interest from the Scottish Premier League, while David Mirfin has returned on loan, Robbie Gibbons has signed having impressed on trial, and at last, we have signed a bustling centre forward in the guise of Jon Parkin.
Let's start with the showing against Sheffield Wednesday. Poor does not cover it.
We were poor in the first half and could easily have been four of five down. The Owls are a good team, but we made them look like world beaters and while Jermaine Johnson's goal for their third appeared like sheer quality, it was down to poor poor defending.
Going forward we showed flashes of ability and it was nice to see Jordan Robertson get his first goal for the club.
Positives beyond that were hard to find, but perhaps for a world class save for Sam Slocombe that would have not looked out of place at the Nou Camp.
So we moved on from a really poor showing towards the transfer deadline. I actually think having a transfer window is devisive and creates a false agent-driven transfer market.
But, its the same for everyone.
O'Connor was the subject of an offer from Hibernian, which was turned down by the board who now risk the Northern Ireland international leaving for nothing in the summer, or perhaps even signing a pre-contract agreement with a Scottish club.
I for one am glad he has stayed - he is needed to help us stay in this division.
Like it or lump it, we are in a relegation battle.
We had to strengthen, simple as that - and we did just that.
Not sure we needed another midfielder, but Gibbons comes highly rated.
We desperately needed defensive cover as we have been poor since Shane Duffy left - how nice though it is to see him playing for Everton's first team.
Mirfin left us in the summer for Watford but things have not gone to plan, and now he returns and will hopefully galvanise the defence.
Up front we have looked lightweight, but now we have 'The Beast', who has signed from Cardiff - just the type of player i think we needed.
Now we have to gel quickly and turn draws into wins, starting against fellow strugglers Walsall this weekend.
It's the type of game we have to win.
Damien Mozika is approaching full fitness and is in the squad, as is Cliff Byrne, so that will help.
Fingers' crossed we need three points desperately.
Up the Iron
