Club commentator Phil Bird returns with his weekly look at the world of football...

Our second half fightback against Stoke was really encouraging. After a tepid first half when we couldn't adapt to their tactics and impose our tempo on the game, we looked the much better side for the remainder of the match.

If we can reproduce that form for the rest of the season we will be OK.

Stoke's style certainly isn't pretty. On the whole we defended well but we will be disappointed to concede from a header from their smallest player (Tuncay).

We were beaten to the second ball. However, I would point out that Rory Delap's long throw wasn't taken from the right spot and for that the referee has to take responsibility.

We were much improved in the second half. Kevin McDonald made a big impact as a second half substitute. Still only 21, he has a massive future ahead of him.

Against Stoke he showed everybody what he is capable of. He now needs to reproduce that level of performance week in week out.

Steven Thompson: Impressed on his first Premier League start

It was Steven Thompson's first Premier League start and I thought he did really well. He has had to wait and wait for his chance. His hold up play was excellent particularly in the second half when we started to get on top.

He was a key player for us in our promotion season and he could have a big impact in the weeks to come.

It's all about Wolves on Saturday. It's a massive game and could shape our season.

They were once our bogey team but some good recent results have hopefully lifted that hoodoo.

Mick McCarthy was at Turf Moor on Wednesday and would have been impressed by our fightback. Wolves have only four home games left, we have five including Saturday's match.

For the Wolves game we need to get 100% behind the lads and make sure Turf Moor is a cauldron of noise. It might just make the difference.

Pay Up Pompey:

Portsmouth could win the FA Cup this season. To be honest that would be a major embarrassment for English football. It would be a slap in the face for every club who have paid their bills on time, who have paid the Inland Revenue and to local businesses who print the programmes and sell the pies.

I've read that they need £4m to pay March's wages and that's after they've supposedly reduced their wage bill!

Lucky Theo:

Praise was heaped on Theo Walcott after Saturday's defeat at the Emirates. Am I alone in thinking he was lucky to stay on the pitch? He reacted to a fantastic Danny Fox tackle in front of the Arsenal technical area.

If Fox, or Jack Cork, had done a "Marco Materazzi" the former Southampton winger would have been on his way down the tunnel.

Walcott raised his arms both at Fox and Cork, if a Burnley player had reacted in the same way I'm sure the referee would have reached for his red card.

The views expressed in this article are those of Mr P Bird and do not necessarily represent those of Burnley Football Club.