Honestly think, if we’d had the lack of “big” injuries that Burnley, Boro, Sheff U have had, we’d be pushing for too 2! Not just play offs. Not sure we’re ready for that yet but the players we’ve missed for large chunks of the season is crazy. Stewart hadn’t ever looked like getting injured in league 1, despite getting kicked to ahit by that level of defence almost weekly. The he turns to glass after what looked a minor injury before the reading game. If he’d been fit all season, we’d be close to Burnley!!!
I said this a few weeks ago and another poster said he didn't see it. Maybe we are both just ultra positive mate, but I agree completely. If Stewart and Evans had stayed fit all season we would be pushing the top for me. So many games we just couldn't finish off or the ball didn't stuck up top like it does when Stewart is playing. Then chuck in the couple of matches where bad decisions by referees have lost us points and we would definitely be fighting for automatic promotion!
if my theory that when you win away it's hard to win at home doing a double I foresee the remaining fixtures like this. Sunderland first result in brackets. Hull. H ( drew away). Home win 3 pts. Cardiff A (lost home). Away win 3 pts. Brum H ( won away). Draw 1 pt. Hudd. H (won away). Draw. 1pt. WBA A (lost home). Away win 3 pts. Watf H (drew away). Home win. 3 pts. PNE A. (drew home) Away win. 3 pts. That gives us another 17 points for a final total of 71 which keeps the season lively right till the last day. Here's hoping.
One step to his right and he'd have been off the pitch, or at least out of the keeper's eyeline ... ... he wasn't saving it either.
Yeah - no room for error now though. Have to win the next game to keep season alive in reality. Do that and then assess where we are, imo.
I agree , it reminded me of our "winner" against Fulham , players have to be aware that defences move out quickly at this level , but what a cracking shot from Clarke, our best forward this season imo.
We've gone through a difficult series of matches,but we've come out with 1 defeat,a win and 2 draws,doing very well.We have a run of 4 winnable matches now,when these players should be able to express their qualities.....let's see how we are before the WBA match. My bet will be just outside the play-off picture.
I'm not too bothered about getting to the play-offs, certainly wont spoil my season, although it would be great to once more see our supporters at Wembley. In a way I want Boro to go up this season, for similar reasons to my observations about Stoke and you know who. I believe our time is next year, and we are well on track for what would be a season to remember if we can keep up our present rate of sustainable progress along with our emphasis on attacking football. The Boro point is that they will be a litmus test measureing how well we are prepared to challenge our moneybag friends from up the road, if Boro can match them it would give me confidence we could go one better and beat them, three NE teams in the Premiership and us top dogs, now that is the stuff that dreams are made on. OaU
Me too,completely agree. I think if we can build on this year,we could reap the benefits next season. I've enjoyed the football we've played this season. If Boro do go up,as you say,a litmus test of where we need to be. The Mags,with their money,are not,at the minute, our immediate rivals,.....unless we get to play against them of course!
Boro losing against Huddersfield is a big blow, they've got Burnley over the weekend and if they lose that and the Blades win against Wigan then I think that's good night Vienna as far as top two is concerned. I wouldn't fancy facing them in the playoffs if I'm honest, if we actually get there.