My match report: Swindon Town v AFC Wimbledon.

It's not so much that the hope kills you, we've all gotta go sometimes. No it's the way it strangles and suffocates you slowly, leaving you gasping for breath before eventually the lights firstly dim then extinguish gradually. Such is the cruelty of hope that we aren't actually dead yet, not totally. Ultimately though after this defeat we know that our demise as a playoff contender is inevitable, as sure a thing as Die Hard being on the TV at Christmas.

It had all started so well in the first fifteen minutes. Swindon looked about as disorganised and demotivated as any team I've seen in ages, we tore into them and it looked like there could only be one winner. Big Joe Lewis headed us in front and I think a second goal would have turned it into a potential goal difference job.

Gradually though as we continually gave them ownership of the football, they put down the holiday brochures and began to get interested. Once they'd realised that if they tried something which didn't come off they were only going to have to wait 30 seconds before we gave them the ball back, they relaxed.

Of course we continued to threaten from mortar bomb throw ins, but once they got the games outstanding player (McEchran) on the ball more often, the tide began to turn. The little midfielder pushed and probed, displaying all of his Chelsea pedigree as he nudged his team back into the game.

In the second half they scored three goals. One of them very good, two of them gifted by us. Once we'd gone behind we made three subs, but in truth although we tried our guts out our play had an air of desperation about it. We got one back via the excellent short shorts adding a second, but time was against us and we slipped to defeat.

Defeat here didn't cost us a playoff spot, that has come about as the result of loads of factors which will no doubt be discussed at length. Ultimately this season has been much better than last, I just wonder whether history will judge it positively. I hope so, there has been much to like, despite the way it's ending. I think though that I probably speak for many when I say that I hope this particular brand of "football" isn't going to be our long term blueprint for success.