I understand a coach feels a duty to try to defend his players in public but in this instance Richard Horne ought to have said Johnston was out of order, let the team down and let the fans down, and that such unprofessional behaviour will not be condoned by the club.

I'm an admirer of the player. This may be out of character and a blip but it should still be called out for what it is. Maybe there's some politics at play? If the player admits to saying it, there may be a ban to follow. If he denies it, it may remain 'unproven' in the eyes of the disciplinary panel with no further action. I don't know.

Reflecting on the game, Richard Horne's request for a faster start will happen against Cornwall because man for man we will be better than them. Swinton didn't allow us to get off to a fast start because they dominated possession and played in our half whilst we kept giving away set restarts. Man for man they were better than us and that allowed them to get off to a fast start.

We'll get four points against Cornwall and W Wales, then crucial home games against Oldham and North Wales follow.

It doesn't matter what we do against Cornwall and West Wales ...because all our rivals will do the same.
It matters what we do against our rivals and that record is played 2 lost 2.....

Very true....

In effect, we've got a proper season of 12 games (against Swinton, Keighley, Rochdale, N Wales, Hunslet and Oldham twice).

We're none from 2 with 10 games to go. I wonder how many of those games we'll need to win not to finish seventh of the seven?

On Sundays showing I honestly think we will win a maximum of four of those 12 games.
I think we will catch a few sides out at home but other than North Wales we have never had good results away at the remaining clubs.

Its gonna be a long season unless we can get some loans in .

There was a comment made on the Facebook supporters page from a frequent poster that both Keighley and Swinton were nothing special. Lord only knows what the heck that makes our side. The Swinton scrum half on Sunday's showing must be one of the favourites for League 1 player of the Season.

Yes he looked very lively and creative....made Robbo look ordinary.
That is the kind of energy and organisation a side needs...and we lack.
Horne has got to be hindbound or he is truly crap...because what is needed for each position is pretty easy to see, despite what people involved in the game say we are not capable of seeing.
Yes different players can offer subtle differences...they say a certain player I think is poor in attack is great in defence...fair enough.
But your halves have to be livewires like Beryl, your forwards determined like Douglas etc...
If they are not why sign them?