With no match on Saturday due to a frozen pitch at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium, I thought it was a good opportunity to have a brief look back on 2008 – and what a year it was.

There were a number of highlights but the best had to be the two semi-final games against Crystal Palace, which resulted in our first trip as a club to the new Wembley stadium. In the away leg, Louis Carey's goal was straight from the training ground and the winner from David Noble will live long in the memory. There were the usual tactics from Neil Warnock, which added to the intensity of spice of the second leg the following Tuesday.

What a magical night, it had it all. A mistake, which allowed Palace back in it, a missed penalty and then a moment of class from Lee Trundle, followed by a bullet free-kick from Michael McIndoe. The sea of fans on the pitch at the end of the game was a sight to behold and of course there was the anticipation of a trip to the capital and the pristine Wembley stadium.

Travelling up the M4 with red and white flags and scarves hanging out of what seemed like every car was brilliant and brought back memories of our previous visits to the home of English football. Unfortunately, it wasn't our day and Hull City got that all-important goal and won the game, denying us a place in the Premiership.

The summer was a difficult one with thoughts of what might have been, but the Championship is still a great league and not a bad place to watch your football. The season to date has been a mixed one and hasn't reached the highs of last season in terms of results or performance, however, over the last month I think we've turned a bit of a corner and I expect a better second half of the season.

There was some good news this week with the signing of a new contract by Bradley Orr. Bradley has performed admirably since being recalled to the side and I am really pleased that he has chosen to remain at Ashton Gate. Brad's signing also means that it's a position that Gary Johnson does not have to replace.

I would hope that City make two or three more signings to enable them to push on to the end of the season. We have seem Birmingham strengthen their side by signing proven quality in Scott Sinclair and Lee Bowyer and I would expect other clubs to follow suit.

It is important to have a happy dressing room and making lots of signings would not be a good move, but we do need to improve the quality within the side.

The transfer window has seen Steve Brooker re-join Doncaster and has also seen Lee Trundle join Leeds on a month's loan. Brooker's move looks to be a permanent one, while Trundle's is reportedly with the intention of getting him games so that he can come back and challenge for a place in the City side.

I really hope that this is the case for Trunds and that he can come back confident, with some goals behind him. I like my City sides to entertain and I think players like Trundle excite the fans.

Tuesday night's game against Portsmouth will be interesting and I would expect City to cause Pompey more of a threat than we did in the away match. City were solid at Fratton Park but never really troubled David James and I hope that we do more at home.

I would expect recalls to the side for Nicky Maynard, who is on a hot run of form, and Michael McIndoe – and we may get to see Peter Styvar in his preferred position down the middle.