OPINION: Has Derby County's annual choke started?

Did anyone see it coming? After a good 3-0 win at Ipswich we have all of a sudden started to crumble.

The now annual end of season choke looks to have begun.

I accept that Reading being a top side we’re going to be strong visitors to Pride Park, but our displays against Bristol City and Cardiff were very sloppy to put it mildly.

Bristol City 3-0 up at half time are a struggling side and no way should a team looking to be in the top six be struggling against them. Okay! We pulled it back to snatch a draw, but our visitors had plenty of chances to win the game.

Against Cardiff we collapsed after taking a good two goal lead.

The game was actually a good summing up of our last few seasons in ninety minutes.

Good start with two early goals before a wobble that saw them pull a goal back before half time and then equalise straight after.

Then a lead for the visitors before Darren Bent pulled it level only for us to give away a penalty and fall at the final fence.

This team will not make the play offs and on current form could be looking at a mid table finish.

For me Newcastle and Brighton will wrap up the automatic places and the teams occupying the next four places and possibly Norwich will battle for the end of season mini tournament to join them.

Steve McClaren has worked alongside some of the best coaches in the game and yet his unsuccessful pursuit into bringing back Chris Martin early from his loan at Fulham signals to me that he lacks any sort of viable alternative. That to me is a manager who is devoid of any other way in achieving success.

A major overhaul of the squad is needed in the summer and some longer term planning too. There’s a few players that need to move on as well!