2018 wasn’t a good year for Sons – Oswestry apart.

But I hadn’t realised how bad it was until I read this this statistical analysis of the playing year produced by a Sons fan on his “Tales From the Rock” blog and linked to on page 1610 of the “Sons Sorrow” thread on the Pie Shop, aka Pie and Bovril.

Played 55, Won 16,* Drawn 8, Lost 31, Goals for 60, Goals Against 104.

These stats show just why manager Stevie Aitken had to be binned.

There has been a small improvement under new manager Jim Duffy, but he is still labouring with the squad he inherited – a lot of whom seem to be injury prone.

*This count includes pre-season games against non-league opposition.

There’s a great appreciation of former Son Jim Lister, who retired from football last week, over at Tales From the Rock.

Jim was the undoubted surprise success of that first season back in the second tier (2012-13) which started off so badly but ended in the triumph of staying up against all the odds. His goals and presence in the attack played a major part in that achievement.

Good luck to him for his future.