Interesting that this year for once we are on the other side of the games in hand debate. I know every game is crucial. But points on the board has proved to be so important later in the season as it puts pressure on teams to win. Wigan already have 3 games in hand for us and incredibly as far as I can see we play twice in the league before Wigan do. So if we win both those games we will be 10 points ahead of Wigan, who will have 5 games in hand. They’ll need to win at least 3 of those to catch us. Psychologically that’s tough, especially if they draw or lose that first game. On the flip side we could lose both games and be just 4 points ahead of them with them having 5 games in hand. That will have a psychological affect the other way. Next two games massive.
Interesting to see that between now, and the 12th February, we have seven league games, five of which are away from home. However, our current form shows a massive positivity of momentum.... Our last six league games shows a goal difference of + 14 Goals for = 17 Goals against = 3 Happy Days !!!
All our matches are now massive. We need to keep this run going....we don't want a situation where another team can overhaul us with their matches in hand. If we have a bit of a blip,we need to be far enough in front to be able to cover it.
A Wycombe A Accrington H Pompey A Bolton H Donny A Cheltenham A Wimbledon some tough fixtures in there, esp. January. Still confident we can win the majority of those games, couple of draws not a disaster
I don't think we've got too much to worry about upcoming fixtures wise....maybe Wycombe away. Wigan not playing and having games in could be their downfall, look at Sheff Wed....looked a bit "ring rusty" to me. Tbh, I don't think anyone will want to be playing us, the form we are in. Time for the rest to start worrying about us now, the Red and White juggernaut is on the move.
always the worry when at the top though, games in hand or not we worry that we can keep the run going...i honestly try to take an objective view rather than 'red and white specs' view and we do actually look good without being excellent. to explain, we are keeping it simple just making sure of a pass and keep moving when it can be easy to over-complicate things we just get the ball into the danger area quickly...look at dajaku's assists, he could easily have taken two or three touches and no one would have complained due to where he was on the pitch, but he saw the forward pass and went for it, both times catching the defence out, our 2nd goal we really had no one in attack but pritchard kept moving forward and that allowed ross to sprint onto the pass, simple and effective football that could easily have added another couple of goals to the tally. barring injuries/covid/suspensions i see no need to mess with the team although should anyone need replacing then i am sure whoever comes in will slot straight in.
Portsmouth is the only one that stands out. They always raise their game against us at the SOL. Not particularly worried by Wycombe or Bolton. Wimbledon and Cheltenham have fairly average home records. Accrington will be a tough game but we should be good enough on present form.
Wigan are also still in the Pizza Cup and FA Cup with both games for them cups coming in early January. They could find themselves with a big fixture pile up this second half of the season.
That’s a good point. We’ve been in that position and it becomes very difficult to keep winning. Hopefully it happens to them.
We got totally blitzed with injuries as per with all of the games we had and finished the season without a recognised CB. Hopefully Wigan will start losing a few key men and we'll see how strong their squad is.
Had a peak at owlstalk and millers forums. They are as nervous as us. Also the question is, who is the team on the home stretch making the late run, eager to take the win?
I have a feeling the result against Wigan and Rotherham in our next head to heads could be a deciding factor on which of the 3 of us get the top 2 spaces
Got to keep our foot right on the accelerator until their games catch up with them. At some point they'll have to play four in a week.
Wigan will have a pile up of fixtures could work against them like it did us in our first season in this league
