Trouble at't Mill(ers". At home to Rotherham, Tuesday 8th Apr. 19-45.

[TANGODANCER]

With a fifteen point gap between the sides, realistically we should be a banker bet for a win, but realism is spelled "fairy tales" in this league. It's more a case of give it all you've got, or start your summer vacation early. The focus is as much on managers as the teams, with Schumacher's not the least pitted against Steve Evans.

Writing the script for current games is very much a case of ground dog day with luck and referees the jokers and the added roller-coaster of who does what all around us, so we need a bit more than get a goal and hang on to your seat belts for 45 minutes. Ideally (that word again) we need to score two or three to be certain. With the bonus of a fit-again Dempsey we might just do it. Go forth then and floor the pedal.....

[DJBlu]

Just keep winning. That is all.

[BWFC_Insane]

Any win will do. Any.

[Bijou Bob]

I had them down for promotion at the start of the season, given what seemed to be some excellent recruitment and a manager that knows the league well. It just goes to show.

3 points by any means is a must. Huddersfield have a tough game against Wycombe, so some clear water between us and them would be very welcome as we head into the final few matches. I’m still hoping Reading might be deducted points after failing to meet an EFL deadline to sell the club, but we really can’t be relying on that.

A makeshift defensive line and a misfiring attack aren’t the ideal scenario for a play offs run in, but frankly, I’m amazed we’re still in with a shot and I’ll take it.

[BWFC_Insane]

I had them down for promotion at the start of the season, given what seemed to be some excellent recruitment and a manager that knows the league well. It just goes to show.

3 points by any means is a must. Huddersfield have a tough game against Wycombe, so some clear water between us and them would be very welcome as we head into the final few matches. I’m still hoping Reading might be deducted points after failing to meet an EFL deadline to sell the club, but we really can’t be relying on that.

A makeshift defensive line and a misfiring attack aren’t the ideal scenario for a play offs run in, but frankly, I’m amazed we’re still in with a shot and I’ll take it.

It’s a strange old season for sure. We got a lift when Schuey came in from having no chance then managed to lose three in a row at the worst time yet are still now just about in 6th. Very odd really given previous seasons the bar has been high for 6th.

I was watching the rerun of the 95 play off final in bed the other night and I guess though this season is nothing at all like that one - it shows strange things can happen.

Nobody would have predicted DeFreitas would be the hero that day or that a badly injury hit side without any discernible midfield would come back by stringing 4 out and our strikers across the top of the pitch.

So I dunno - Randall to score the winner at Wembley? Santos to volley one in from 30 yards?

I suspect we fall short but it’s definitely better than it was.

[TonyDomingos]

It’s a strange old season for sure. We got a lift when Schuey came in from having no chance then managed to lose three in a row at the worst time yet are still now just about in 6th. Very odd really given previous seasons the bar has been high for 6th.

Despite those three consecutive defeats, we've amassed 28 points from the 14 games in the post-Evatt era. That's automatic promotion form (Wrexham have 81 from 41) for a third of the season, even if it doesn't feel like it!

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Nobody would have predicted DeFreitas would be the hero that day or that a badly injury hit side without any discernible midfield would come back by stringing 4 out and our strikers across the top of the pitch.

So I dunno - Randall to score the winner at Wembley? Santos to volley one in from 30 yards?

I have idly wondered if our DeFreitas might be Etete…

[The_Gun]

Sounds as though Forrester is done for the season, whilst Schön and Toal are still a couple of weeks off. Some of the outcasts likely to be required tomorrow and for the next few, then.

Matete might be afforded a rare start after his improved showing on Saturday, and I assume Murphy will at least make the bench. Ideally one of Lolos or Etete could be trusted to spell Macca and Collins, who are both being run into the ground.

[boltonboris]

Nobody would have predicted DeFreitas would be the hero that day or that a badly injury hit side without any discernible midfield would come back by stringing 4 out and our strikers across the top of the pitch.

So I dunno - Randall to score the winner at Wembley? Santos to volley one in from 30 yards?

I have idly wondered if our DeFreitas might be Etete…

We thought it was Cameron Jerome....

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Sounds as though Forrester is done for the season, whilst Schön and Toal are still a couple of weeks off. Some of the outcasts likely to be required tomorrow and for the next few, then.

Matete might be afforded a rare start after his improved showing on Saturday, and I assume Murphy will at least make the bench. Ideally one of Lolos or Etete could be trusted to spell Macca and Collins, who are both being run into the ground.

Schuey on Rico:

It has been hard to put him in and get him minutes because I feel as though the players have been playing well. The opportunity to get him involved hasn't been quite there. But with the injury to Will, he will come into consideration.

Everyone knows he's a good player. But he's a good player when he's fully fit, and that injury that he has had has been a frustrating one. He has been training just fine and a bit like Kyle Dempsey, he is similar, he has been getting a little bit sharper every single day, so if he's needed, I'm sure he'll be ready.

[boltonboris]

Forino seemed to struggle after a tackle too. Took a while to get going again and didn't look quite right after it.

I truly hope he's not injured too...

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Forino seemed to struggle after a tackle too. Took a while to get going again and didn't look quite right after it.

I truly hope he's not injured too...

If so, they're keeping it quiet. Which would be understandable.

Toal is targeting the 45th-game trip to Posh for a return. So if Forrester is (as feared) out for the season, the right-footed RCB options for the next four games are Gethin (who hasn't played there for Schumacher) or Rico (who hasn't played at all for Schumacher). It's an upheaval, for sure – but then again, a couple of seasons ago when we were without Toal, Santos, Iredale and Mbete, Evatt dropped MJ into centre-back and we looked almost watertight, conceding just twice in five games.

Meanwhile at LCB we've got three left-footed options, if you include Thomason – as Schumacher seems to, whether you like it or not. Not sure that I like the idea of pushing any of those three, even Johnston, over to RCB.

Or we could just go back four - with a square-peg LB, either Gethin or Thomason - but that would affect our tactical flexibility.

[The_Gun]

Back four of JDC, Forino, Johnston and Murphy could work.

[irie Cee Bee]

Forino seemed to struggle after a tackle too. Took a while to get going again and didn't look quite right after it.

I truly hope he's not injured too...

If so, they're keeping it quiet. Which would be understandable.

Toal is targeting the 45th-game trip to Posh for a return. So if Forrester is (as feared) out for the season, the right-footed RCB options for the next four games are Gethin (who hasn't played there for Schumacher) or Rico (who hasn't played at all for Schumacher). It's an upheaval, for sure – but then again, a couple of seasons ago when we were without Toal, Santos, Iredale and Mbete, Evatt dropped MJ into centre-back and we looked almost watertight, conceding just twice in five games.

Meanwhile at LCB we've got three left-footed options, if you include Thomason – as Schumacher seems to, whether you like it or not. Not sure that I like the idea of pushing any of those three, even Johnston, over to RCB.

Or we could just go back four - with a square-peg LB, either Gethin or Thomason - but that would affect our tactical flexibility.

I would also add JDC at RCH. I have him ahead of Jones in that position. If Santos plays, I would have him Centre and Forino at RCH. From Schuey's quotes, it doesn't appear that he is impressed with Santos in training so it looks like a Forino, Johnston and Thomason back 3 with Johnston at Centre.

[Bertie Wooster]

This could be a very hard game IMO, I really hope that we win but I suspect that this will be a draw.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

I would also add JDC at RCH. I have him ahead of Jones in that position. If Santos plays, I would have him Centre and Forino at RCH. From Schuey's quotes, it doesn't appear that he is impressed with Santos in training so it looks like a Forino, Johnston and Thomason back 3 with Johnston at Centre.

I think Cogz could be played on the right of a three, but I think it would waste his single biggest benefit - his indefatigable energy.

Also not sure Johnston's the one I'd want in the middle of a three - he feels more like the outside centre-half, going to close down wide players, than the central figure nodding away crosses.

I do though agree that if Forino and Santos pboth play I'd put Rico in the middle and Forino right.

Back four of JDC, Forino, Johnston and Murphy could work.

Yeah, could do. I just feel Murphy has drifted far from the picture recently.

[Prufrock]

Well it's the ref who sends Rico off so that's fun.

And the other one who hates us is 4th official.

[Harry Genshaw]

Well it's the ref who sends Rico off so that's fun.

And the other one who hates us is 4th official.

With the risible Steve Evans no longer on the opposition bench, it's a lost opportunity to water down that hatred!

I'd like to see Lolos start tonight and Etete given a proper go off the bench. Tough game, they've a decent collection of players who have largely underperformed this season except, of course, when we rocked up there. It was the game that prompted Evatt's "changing me won't change anything" comments and the day when I knew he wouldn't come back from.

[The_Gun]

Well it's the ref who sends Rico off so that's fun.

And the other one who hates us is 4th official.

With the risible Steve Evans no longer on the opposition bench, it's a lost opportunity to water down that hatred!

I'd like to see Lolos start tonight and Etete given a proper go off the bench. Tough game, they've a decent collection of players who have largely underperformed this season except, of course, when we rocked up there. It was the game that prompted Evatt's "changing me won't change anything" comments and the day when I knew he wouldn't come back from.

The B team are playing this afternoon, so we may get an early indication as to whether Lolos (and Santos) will be involved with the first team.

I’d personally be very surprised if Schuey starts with Lolos, but I suspect if we’re winning then him or Etete might get half an hour in place of the first choice pair.

[The_Gun]

No first teamers involved for the Bs this afternoon.