Maybe, maybe not. We don't know. They've had a tough run of fixtures over Christmas while we've had a relatively comfortable run, in comparison. We will have a tough run of games at the end of the season; Leicester, Ipswich, Leeds all away from home in the last 9.
Personally, and I said this the other day, I think the draws are as damaging the losses. We’re currently 13 points behind Leicester, but have only lost one more match than they have. So in a way, any match (like the Norwich game) where we drop a couple of points, represents a mini-drop in form. We simply have to win as many matches as possible, get more of those Ryan Fraser last-minute winners, or keep grinding out the 1-0’s, and the odd loss won’t matter, as long as there aren’t more than a very few.
Yeah draws are definitely damaging when going for autos. We've been brilliant at home for ages now but still had a fair few away matches where we've struggled a bit. That's the area that needs to improve for autos imo.
Exactly. I think we have to expect that the three teams chasing 2nd, will all likely average around 2 points per game from here on in. The window is massive. I feel Leeds are underperforming somewhat, and I don't see what position they need strengthening in (Firpo replaced at LB maybe). They have quite the array of attacking talent already, so I don't see how they can significantly improve on what they've got. For us though (and Ipswich), the acquisition of a striker who can score 12-15 goals over these last 20 games, would be huge.
I feel like people are sleeping on Leeds a bit tbh since we've gone ahead of them. Definitely expect them to be there or thereabouts pretty much for the remainder of the season.
You know me, I’m ever the optimist, so let’s just imagine for a moment that the season actually started with the Leeds match, which was the first of this 18 match unbeaten run. Since then we have gained 42 points from those 18 games, an average of 2.3333 per match. If we can carry on THAT form, we’re just about a shoe-in for autos.
Call me old-fashioned, but this thread has veered away from Saints v Walsall in the FA Cup, into a discussion about not dropping points relative to our rivals. Or is the elephant in the room a desire to leave the cup as soon as possible?
It’s a fair point, but I’m sure discussion of the actual match will pick up once we get closer to the actual match.
There’s one running down the road outside my house, I think the drains are blocked again. I blame our inability to win the FA Cup for the last 48 years.
I'm almost certain in previous years it's been at some ex PL clubs where the facilities are there. Later round perhaps.
Fair enough. Hopefully we don't reach the quarters then as I'll end up wanting to go and then lobbing myself in the sea after the match.
