We have been saying it for the last few weeks but any slim chances of making the play offs really did fizzle out on Saturday.

Another disappointing home result against a relegation-threatened Coventry City kind of sums up our season really.

A fine first-half header from Charlie Austin, after a largely scrappy start to the game, really should have set us on our way.

But, as you often find with teams struggling at the bottom of the table, the visitors were quite well organised and did push forward.

We struggled to retain possession for long enough and while both Austin and Danny Ings worked good opportunities, the Coventry defence were able to crowd them out at the last minute.

In the second half we looked far too pedestrian and it didn’t really come as a surprise when Clive Platt grabbed the equaliser.

We put pressure on the Sky Blues but were lacking a cutting edge in front of goal and never really looked like snatching a winner.

Eddie Howe spoke of the need to sort out the home form but it is difficult to put a finger on what the problem seems to be.

There is certainly more pressure playing at Turf Moor and with a young side such as ours that can be a bit unnerving.

The Turf always used to be a fortress and I am sure it will be again but Howe needs to try and get to the root of the problem and quick because there is no doubt that our home form has cost us a place in the play offs.

Don’t get me wrong, it has been a very good season and there is certainly no shame in falling short, especially after the changes in players we saw last summer.

But we need to be looking to move forward and with Howe at the helm, I have no doubt that we will.

There are a lot of excellent young lads coming through and having had the pleasure of interviewing youth team coach Andy Farrell at the BFPA’s 1991/92 Fourth Division Championship dinner, I know the feeling among the management staff is that they all have a very bright future.

It is key that we finish the season positively, starting with a tough game at Leicester City tomorrow night.

The Foxes are two points and two places above us in the table and it is never an easy place to go.

But with our away record you certainly can’t rule out us going there and getting setting.

Our final away game of the season on Saturday is about far more than the result.

A trip to Blackpool for a local derby is always a spicy affair and if we can put a dent in their place off hopes then all the better.

Whatever happens will happen but I would love to see Howe give a couple of the youth team lads a start over the next three games.

Our play off hopes have died so the pressure is off and we may never get a better chance to blood in the young lads ahead of next season.