I started writing this one in an NHS walk-in centre, having been bitten by a dog in Nottingham. Up until then I was, despite the fantastic performance and result, struggling to find a theme to pull it all together. So every cloud, and all that.

Best, most complete performance of the season? Quite possibly. I had the pleasure of watching it (like on Boxing Day) with a bunch of Villa-supporting Brummies. I think I wore a hole in the carpet running up and down the lounge.

And what an ending with Burns, back from his long injury lay-off, wrapping up the win. Just perfect.

Coventry City 0:2 Ipswich Town, 29/12/2025

Ruff Justice

This story is old
and quite often told of
how Town have no teeth or belief when controlling
a game, to our shame, but who can you blame
when the dog is all bark
a black mark on your name?
Well this one was different, like a quick whippet - sleek,
and baring our canines (can we play them every week?)
Furlong covered furlongs like a bulldog in the park,
shaking rattles in his battles as he chased Mason-Clark.
The big dogs of Dara and Kip at the back
and Greaves chasing leaves, he conceives to attack
mode. Bodes well, hell, was he mutt-of-the-match?
No longer getting stick, now a satisfying scratch.
And the merrier terrier, paws-for-thought Jack
smacked it off a Wolf and into the back
of the net, to set up a pup, twistings and turns
a fairy tail wagging for back-from-the-vets Burns
who once thrown a bone will gratefully feed
(and frankly, we never looked like dropping the lead).
A walkies in the park then, it’s fair to say
in McKenna’s kennel,
every dog has its day.

armchaircritic59 added 14:38 - Jan 1 Very dogged of you to still manage a poem after all that, hope all is fine now!
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