So much for Tony Blair's theme tune 'Things can only get better.'

After the FA Cup exit at Lincoln City it really was a case of payback time for the loyal Albion support, but a long time fan I spoke to after the Bristol City debacle said Saturday's capitulation was almost up there with the humiliating home defeat by non-league Walton and Hersham back in 1974.

Needless to say the phone and text lines on my BBC SCR phone-in after the game were red hot.

The common theme was supporters saying they had left the ground long before the final whistle, many for the first time.

The fans are sometimes forgotten, their opinion is rarely valued and in a lot of cases people say something along the lines of 'Well, if they don't like it they can lump it.'

That attitude is nothing short of criminal. The fans are the people who work all week, be it in factories, offices or out on building sites and then hand over, in some cases well in advance through season tickets, their hard earned money in exchange for entertainment from their favourite football team.

Clearly that is not happening at Albion at the moment but who, if anyone, is to blame?

In my opinion one person who isn't is Mark McGhee, although there will be a tiny minority of fans already saying that he is.

When McGhee got the Albion job, internet columnist Ferret stated that there would be a bedding-in period and that the new boss's first benchmark game would be against Bristol City.

Thankfully not, otherwise Dick Knight would be embarking on yet another search for a new inhabitant of the dugout.

Although he's only been here five minutes, it's clear his idea of how a football club, and specifically the playing side, should be run are somewhat different to the way previous managers have done things.

That doesn't mean to say that either is right or wrong. The Albion's recent success and McGhee's proven track record testify to that.

But players and managers come and go and it appears from the signals being given out that a number of players might have reached the end of the line with the club which is always sad.

Then again there came the day when the likes of Horton, Case, Reinelt and Ormerod, all heroes in their own way, had to leave.

McGhee clearly wants to, and some people might say needs to, bring in fresh faces, but he is hampered in some ways with existing contracts along with the funding for new faces. But then again, ultimately that is more an issue for the chairman to address.

Although it is very unpleasant at the moment, I believe Albion's form is a blip.

Albion are still in touch with the leaders despite only taking one point from 15. That tells me all is not lost.

I still believe Albion, with McGhee in charge, can mount a promotion challenge, but he certainly needs immediate help from the board.

I appreciate Falmer is an important issue, but so is what happens on the pitch now.

The nation will come to a standstill on Saturday morning for the Rugby World Cup final, a repeat of the 1991 Twickenham clash which the Aussies ran out victors.

That was a day I remember well. I was at Ewood Park watching George Courtney send off Gary O'Reilly and Mark Beeney as the Albion went down to a Kenny Dalglish inspired Blackburn Rovers.

A different story this time? I sincerely hope so, and to celebrate England's possible coronation as world champions those lovely people at EA Sports have sent me two copies of Rugby 2004 on Play Station 2.

To have the chance of winning one of these great prizes please tell me who is the current England rugby coach?

Send your entries to Rugby Competition, Sports Desk, Argus House, Crowhurst Road, Brighton BN1 8AR. Closing date is Wednesday November 26.