We've a good run in on paper. Cardiff at home on Tuesday, another team with little to play for now after they've pulled themselves out of trouble; their form of late has been marginally better than ours so this is one we can get 3 points from. Followed by 2 tough away games at Blackburn and Wigan. I think the latter are all but down, but it will be a tricky game nonetheless. Blackburn haven't won in their last 5 and Wigan have won 1 in 8. Considering they're fighting for their league statuses, they don't appear to be accumulating too many points of late. Brentford at home represent one of only 2 teams above us in our run in who are above us. Another game with little at stake. They're on a decent run or form and are unbeaten in their last 4 away games. It will all depend on what happens in the meantime I reckon as to how they will treat our game. Bristol City away after that. A notoriously difficult hunting ground for us, and generally a high scoring affair. They've picked up a little lately, winning 2 out of 3. They'd won 2 out of 22 prior to that though. They'll be a different proposition to the team we faced at Oakwell as that appeared to be the game which directly preceeded their slide down the table. Burton at home follows. They could be safe by then. They're currently on a run of 1 defeat in 8, albeit with 4 consecutive draws in there. We've a 100% record against Burton at home. Played 2 won 2. We could do them a favour by picking up points from the teams around them in the preceeding weeks and make sure that by this game, it's 2 teams with little to play for. Then Newcastle away, anything could happen in that one. The point I'm trying to make is that we've come through a difficult period of 8 or so games against teams around or above us. I said prior to the first one (which I think was Villa) that if we can make it through that run of games within 4 points of the top 6 then we'd have a chance at the play-offs. We haven't. We've won just one of those games. Admittedly it is partially down to the poor transfer window we had, partially down to the sides we've faced. We need to kick on now. I'd be disappointed to finish outside the top half and/or below 60 points after the season we've had. Select our strongest side for every game, and start again in the summer. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
Id be pleasantly surprised to get more than 6 points. We couldn't beat 2 woeful sides in Wednesday and Ipswich. We are in a desperate run of form. We don't seem to have many attacking options. Either way it will have been a good/ ok season with lots of highs.
Good post. Season ticket sales and luring potential signings will hinge on our next few games so there is more than just a bit of pride left to play for. Yesterday was electric and, for once, we didn't lose. Games like that should push those season ticket holders undecided whether to renew in the right direction.
I think the only thing stopping us from winning our next 6 games is ourselves. The 2 games you mention, we dropped points due to one lapse in concentration in each. Start the team that finished the game yesterday (barring Armstrong for Bradshaw in my opinion and assuming Yiadom is out) and on paper, we should be good enough to beat Cardiff. On the flip side, had we scored a 2nd yesterday, Davies' mistake would have looked immaterial in an otherwise quiet game for him. Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
I'm hoping we can get over the 60 points mark, but I wouldn't put money on it. Not that I think we're playing badly, it's just hard to see where the goals are going to come from. Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk
I think we'll do better away from home points wise. We don't really have a lot to break down defences at home, but we can catch teams on the break. Would expect Colin to do a job on us on Tuesday night, but could see us winning & Wigan & maybe a draw at Blackburn. As long as we win at Bristol City to see them relegated I'll be happy to inveat in a season ticket next year...
That's rarely happening now though mate. Last 3 aways against Derby, QPR and Norwich have been like the home games. Plenty of possession but little goal threat and some woeful shooting from around the box. Sent from my SM-G850F using Tapatalk