We are (hopefully) staying up: the opposition

[Lost Leopard Spot]

And I'm still baffled that Clough has been exiled to Purgatory rather than be allowed to tread one of the eleven circles of (in Insano's opinion) Hell.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

Right, friend (who has access to director's box) just setting off now for Burton match, and having been invited, tagging along (two thirds cut, mind).

[bw@bw]

Scores not going our way tonight.

Hull winning
Others drawing

[DJBlu]

Scores not going our way tonight.

Hull winning
Others drawing

All that matters is Burton lose.

Currently 1 down.

[malcd1]

Barnsley fair battering Norwich as well.

Wolves beating Reading though.

[DJBlu]

Barnsley fair battering Norwich as well.

Wolves beating Reading though.

1-1

[DJBlu]

Burton lost as did Reading.
Barnsley draw.

Not a bad evening.

[malcd1]

Yep. Not as bad as feared in that first half.

[bw@bw]

Looks like Hull are getting safe

Then there were 6?

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Looks like Hull are getting safe

Then there were 6?

Hull play at Birmingham on Saturday, so they're very welcome to three points there. Then it's Villa, Wolves, QPR, Burton, Wednesday, Bristol City, Cardiff and Brentford - so a very mixed bag.

Yet again, can't complain about tonight's results. The games in hand are gone and we're six points above the dots; we're twice as near to 17th as to 22nd. Barring an eight-goal swing we'll still be above the pips on Easter Sunday. Then we're into the home stretch, the final seven fixtures which include games against Brum, Burton and Barnsley, games which the opposition will need to win more than we will. This is all good news.

[jmjhb]

Good results really, providing the bottom 3 continue to lose as Burton did tonight. Hull winning and Barnsley drawing is neither here nor there.

With 9 games left and with a 6 point plus goal difference advantage, things will remain in our hands. Technically it's a 6 game season...

[TANGODANCER]

I didn't really want to contemplate going to the wire, but it may be that way. "A six game season", now there's a thing! Still, the same old rules apply, in the end, it's goals that count...We can do this....

[BWFC_Insane]

I didn't really want to contemplate going to the wire, but it may be that way. "A six game season", now there's a thing! Still, the same old rules apply, in the end, it's goals that count...We can do this....

I'd say that the key to avoiding taking it down to the wire will be beating Birmingham. Beat them at home and I suspect unless Burton seriously pick up form that we'll be ok. Lose to Brum though and things will get twitchy.

[TANGODANCER]

Villa will be a tough ask Saturday, particularly them having lost last night. Need some fierce concentration and desire, but we can do it.

[Harry Genshaw]

]

Villa will be a tough ask Saturday, particularly them having lost last night. Need some fierce concentration and desire, but we can do it.

That was a bad result for us. I can't stand the bloke but ol Mrs Doubtfire is a good manager. He won't allow such a slovenly approach as last night to be repeated

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Screen Shot 2018-03-16 at 16.11.06.png (48.51 KiB) Viewed 2852 times

Barnsley-Millwall (1pm)
Birmingham-Hull
Leeds-Sheff Wed
Norwich-Reading
Sunderland-Preston
Wolves-Burton

We’re likely to lose to Villa at teatime, so let’s hope those who go before us don’t go beyond us. Barnsley could overtake us by 3pm, but only if they beat Millwall, who have been quietly solid recently: since losing on NYD they’ve W7 D4 L0, six of those seven wins have been single-goal, and forward Aiden O’Brien is back from ankle-knack.

Reading, level on points with us, travel to Norwich for a match between two teams on awful form: neither has won in six action-packed weeks.

Two points above us and Reading, Sheff Wed travel for what used to be a big match, at Leeds. Hopefully Heckingbottom’s Yorkshire pride will be pricked.

Below us, Birmingham and Burton could each cut the six-point gap to us. Blues host Hull, who’ve scored seven in two since they got their best players back. Burton are at Wolves, who have the hot breath of Neil Warnock on their neck – Cardiff are now only three points behind them.

Oh and Sunderland are playing, too. They might beat Preston, which would put them five points behind us; a win would also match the total number of points they’ve collected in the last nine games.

[knobpolisher]

In my humble opinion, the "unexpected" bonus of our three points against the villa puts our destiny firmly in our own hands. If we fail from this position I shall be devastated.
We could have been only three ahead of the dotted line but to remain six ahead in a match our rivals expected us to lose is not only a massive boost for our lads it's a kick in the crotch to others in the basement scrap. I doubt that Birmingham are targeting us now as a potential catch they must realise realistically they aren't going to overhaul the mighty whites.

[Lost Leopard Spot]

In my humble opinion, the "unexpected" bonus of our three points against the villa puts our destiny firmly in our own hands. If we fail from this position I shall be devastated.
We could have been only three ahead of the dotted line but to remain six ahead in a match our rivals expected us to lose is not only a massive boost for our lads it's a kick in the crotch to others in the basement scrap. I doubt that Birmingham are targeting us now as a potential catch they must realise realistically they aren't going to overhaul the mighty whites.

Yep, all my worries have evaporated. Sunderland are gone - no doubt whatsoever. Burton are under severe doomsville. Birmingham may yet squirm free, but Hull will readily take their place.
We are Guaranteed staying up now.

[Prufrock]

Reading in big trouble too. Trying to total football their way out of trouble.

[bw@bw]

It seems to me that we have 3 key games - Burton Barnsley and Birmingham.
If we win all 3 - we will be certain to stay up.
We would have 48 points and they would all have one game less to catch us.