HAVE you ever been to a sports psychologist?

The answer for most of you, of course, will be ‘no’ – but they really can be very good.

I raise the topic because if Town throw away any more big leads then they’ll be carting the fans, players, punters (people like me who keep backing them and losing) off to a funny farm.

My good friend, Channel 4 racing expert and big Town fan Jim McGrath, tells me Town have led in 13 of the 15 drawn games they’ve played this season.

An incredible statistic but, more importantly, why?

The fact they have led in those games and lost only three all season tells us they are vastly superior to the majority of League I sides.

But they aren’t finishing off games, and that can only be put down to what’s between the players ears.

Upsets usually happen in football because the superior team takes it easier than they should and stop doing the basic things that make them the better team.

A few weeks ago I was watching Sunderland away at Peterborough in the FA Cup.

They were cruising at 2-0, totally in control of the game.

Kieran Richardson – probably the perfect example of a player who would just do enough to win – had easy possession, looked up and tried to beat the winger by putting it through his legs in his own half.

In other words, he was taking the sort of gamble he hadn’t done all game.

Martin O’Neill sprinted down the touchline, berating his full-back. He was beyond himself with rage at the arrogance of Richardson thinking his work was done and he could start treating the opposition with contempt.

In top level sport, when you have your foot on your opponent’s throat you don’t take it off.

It’s why O’Neill has taken the same group of players Steve Bruce had, turned them around and made them a competitive team.

Bury are a poor side, so to allow them back into a game when 3-0 up was nothing short of criminal.

I’m sure Simon Grayson will be trying to get in the players heads, but that can sometimes be easier said than done.

As Fergie has shown at Old Trafford, winning is a state of mind.

It’s not about being the better players, it’s not about playing the best football, it’s about grinding out results and not giving an inch (like Town obviously did to win on Tuesday).

Gary Neville has quickly become a star of Sky Sports, and even fans who hated him when he was playing now respect him massively – but why?

It’s because he embodies the ruthlessness of his former manager, giving a clinically honest assessment of what’s in front of him.

Fans love honesty and that’s what Neville gives.

Mentally strong sides don’t give up 2-0 and 3-0 leads to much weaker opposition. Simple as that.

Over the coming weeks I don’t really care who solves Town’s problems but whoever it is – the sports psychologists or the new manager and his staff – please do it soon.

Town fans and punters can’t take any more.

CHELTENHAM Festival is simply the best four days of national hunt racing in the world.

I’ll be there working for Skybet and hoping to back a few winners for myself along the way.

Former champions Hurricane Fly and Quevega will be all the rage on Tuesday, as will Sprinter Sacre who looks like a bit of a machine – but at a bigger price I’ll be on Quantitativeeasing in the JLT chase.

On Wednesday, Sizing Europe is my bet of the week and I’ve had my eye on Noble Prince for the Ryanair Chase on Thursday.

As for Kauto Star, I’ll be leaving him alone. I hate it when top horses have injury scares, so one to avoid for me.

THE best advice I can give anyone for Cheltenham is look around for the best offers.

Bookmakers literally end up giving money away trying to attract customers. If your shrewd, you’ll find some amazing offers.

My firm Skybet are paying five places each way on the first race of the Festival when normal bookmaking would pay only three places.

It doesn’t take a genius to work out this is major offer, so if you’re having an each way bet in the race you’d be mad not to back with Skybet.

The point, however, is that every bookmaker in the country will be doing similar offers so be clever, and if an offer suits what you want to back then use it. Good luck.