Bournemouth now ahead as are Brentford who are now just one point behind us. They are taking Middlesborough apart away from home when we could only draw at home with the same team. At the moment both Brentford and Swansea look like top two promotion candidates.
It's starting to look as if it's a question who will come second to Brentford. The force seems with them, just as it seemed with us in 18-19. And I have to say I can't resent them their success because they have built up for it slowly and cleverly over many seasons (unlike, for instance, Watford, whose response to not winning in three games is to sack their manager). I still think we have what it takes to pip Swansea for second, despite last night, but we need to get our mojo back, and quickly.
Middlesbrough were very unlucky to not score a few goals but Brentford are looking very good winning 4-1
A few of us on here were talking about next season as promotion being a formality. It looks like we are throwing away all that hard work early on .
Good runs don't last forever, as we've just found out. Brentford play at Reading mid-week, which won't be easy, but if they win they go top. We need a good result against Stoke and then get a run going. Brentford still have to come to CR, as do all of the other leading teams except Swansea.
Automatic promotion is still firmly in our hands. I will start worrying if there’s three matches left and we’re more than a couple of points off autos. Right now: a rough patch. Keep calm, Brentford and Swansea won’t keep up their good runs, we just need to focus on finding some form again. A week’s rest, for once, will help.
The issue of rest is important as is having a full week to prepare for the next match. We've just played 3 games in 6 days and that takes a toll, especially when the last 2 games are away with tiring journeys before and after. Swansea had a week to prepare for last night's game and it showed. For us to have 8 days to prepare for Stoke at home should help now and hopefully that'll show in our play.
Reading v Brentford Tonight at 7pm and a Brentford win would put them top. WhoScored preview below: https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1487542/Preview/England-Championship-2020-2021-Reading-Brentford