Where do we start? The result kind of speaks for itself, and in many ways represents our season of disappointment. Last week the result was a blip in the norm, and today it was business as usual.

Both teams had little to play for but pride, and as it happens, 3 points hoisted Plymouth above Town in the final table at 14th. We get 15th then, not bad - terrible. The worst in fact, for 40 years. It's hard to believe all those wonderfull moments, fantastic journeys to epic games in far off lands, ever happened to this club.

[Breathe]

But never mind, snap out of it, it's all over and we have to look to next season. Good things from the game, Nicky Forster kept up his goal-machineism to score in his 4th game in succession. Top scorer on 7 goals for the season - we've had 'keepers who have scored more in a- no I was being positive.

Shane Supple made some more excellent saves, although still showing room for improvement. Another youngster Chris Casement was pretty bright and set up Forster's goal. First timer Liam Trotter got a ten-minute run-out also.

Ian Westlake was back in the side having recovered from his lengthy absence through injury, and fellow sicknote Sam Parkin was back too, but not his razor sharp self when he missed a sitter from a yard or two.

A final farewell was bid by the plucky travelling Tractors to living legend Jim Magilton, who got a half hour warm down to his brilliant Town career. It was another veteran playing out his last game who had the biggest influence on this match, Micky Evans scoring the winner for Plymouth shortly before big Jim took to the field.

At least the everage age of the team should be halved next season.

The story today was not about two cracking goals against a team resigned to finishing even below the mighty Tractor Boys, but about the recognition of two players who have served the club well for a number of years.

Fabian Wilnis was announced Player of the Year after last week's pre-match vote by the fans. He was presented with his award 15 minutes before today's game on the pitch, receiving a warm applause from those who had ventured to their seats early. Well deserved, although several candidates accumulated a fair chunk of the votes, notably Richard Naylor and Jason De Vos. Fab had a decent enough game until he was withdrawn just before half time, apparently nursing an injury.

The dominating point of note for the day was Jim Magilton playing for the last time at Portman Road. He started the match and played a good half before being sub'd at half time. A shame that he wasn't taken off during play, but it was his own descision, insisting that his replacement Jaime Peters was "nervous enough already" and that he get the full 45. We all know that he just didn't want to leave the field blubbing like a baby.

The now former Town skipper will be hugely missed in the side and I'm sure his more than firey personality will leave a hard to fill hole in the dressing room. Jim reappeared after the game heading the lap of honour around the pitch, bringing with him his two young lads to lap up the atmosphere. Plenty were decent enough to stay behind for the send off, with a few banners wishing him well. All the best to the man in his future exploits.

Matchwise, it all seemed kind of secondary today, the first half passing without much in the way of excitiment, Town seemingly having most posession but still pretty shot shy, and Derby making more use of their chances but both teams drawing a blank until after the break. It was a shame that Jim hadn't scored, he'd had a half chance or two and you could see that the rest of the team were willing him to do so.

It didn't take long for the deadlock to be broken in the second half, Nicky Forster received the ball from Owen Garvan about 20 yards out and took a step before shooting high into the net beyond the reach of Derby keeper Lee Camp. It was quick thinking and a good strike, keeping up his excellent scoring run since returning to the side.

About a quarter of an hour later we were two up, this time Darren Currie showed his ball skills by chipping up a pass in front of him and volleying it home from outside the area. Jaime Peters had sent in the ball, and had been lively in his second half appearance out on the right - no sign of nerves at all, Jim.

We should perhaps have put the icing on the cake with a third and certainly had the chances to do so, but what did it matter, the day belonged to Super Jim.

What an embarrasment. If only this game had ended at half time we would've at least gained (not earned) a point, and only had the lack of goals to moan about. But at the final whistle, those who hadn't already left certainly had plenty else to get their whinge-fix from this week.

For a large part of the game, namely the first half I suppose, I didn't think we were that out of shape, we kind of had the right ideas but just could not hold onto the ball. We gave it away cheaply and made nothing of our chances going forward, the latter being all too common recently. Stoke were industrious and perhaps forced a few errors out of us, but on the whole we made them look better than they are - without taking too much away from their win.

Their opener, I thought was from a pretty well worked ball in which was just too far from Shane Supple, and just at that "wrong height", hence Fabian Wilnis heading home from all of 3 inches off the ground. The striker on his back would probably have burried it anyway of course.

The equaliser came not too long after, substitue Danny Haynes being persistent down the wing and cutting a deep ball back which found Jimmy Juan whose drive was blocked before Alan Lee tried to scramble it home. Haynes had continued to rush towards goal and mopped up the rebound.

So it seemed all was not lost. But then we had a dodgy goal (which on reflection could've just been very well timed). One of those that had offside written all over it but no flag. From this point we seemed to buckle, we went to pieces and gave up what little effort had been put in so far.

Stoke missed chances before getting their thrid including an excellent off the line clearance from Richard Naylor after Supple tried fancy stuff in the area and messed up. Some major dithering caused goal 3, but it was well taken, and the fourth just had to be scored by bloody ex-scummer Darel Russell.

Our season died with our playoff hopes but we'd still like some nice football before the end of the season and, well if it's not too much trouble lads, perhaps finishing above Norwich wouldn't be too much to ask? This isn't going to be good for season ticket sales, is it?