MILLWALL F.C. v WATFORD F.C. Tuesday, we play Millwall and try to get our highly-faltering promotion push back on track. The league table doesn't lie and we look destined for the lottery of the play-offs after flirting with second spot for a while. If we want to have ANY chance of second spot we need to win all of our games and cross our fingers for Hull to slip up. Millwall just lost their FA Cup tie to Wigan, with a bit of in-house fighting amongst the fans, Jackett's apologised for it, so all is ok then, isn't it? Anyway, this is a Championship fixture and that was in the FA Cup. Millwall sit in 18th and could still, mathematically be relegated. So they have a lot to play for. They haven't won in four (including the FA Cup game). In the reverse fixture it was a high scoring 0-0. I hope our fans give both Jackett and club Captain, D.****tu applause for their time at Watford. Both teams could do with a win, last game we got beaten by Peterborough and Zola tried some weird formation, accoring to reports. However we were down to ten men. With Cassetti's red card, a fair few underperformers and a defensive injury list, well, I think Zola might well have a big reshuffle at The Den. TEAM NEWS FROM ESPN Millwall boss Kenny Jackett is expected to shuffle his pack ahead of his side's meeting with promotion hopefuls Watford. Despite suffering no injuries in Saturday's 2-0 loss to Wigan in their FA Cup semi-final, club physio Bobby Bacic admitted a number of players were fatigued to the maximum. Attackers Rob Hulse and Shaun Batt, along with midfielder Liam Trotter, all came off the bench at Wembley and could be in line for a starting role next time out. Trotter could replace Sean St Ledger who twice suffered heavy knocks to his ankle during the cup clash but decided to battle on. Jackett's only confirmed absentee is regular skipper Paul Robinson who is continuing his rehabilitation from a groin injury in the gym. The Lions are just three points above the relegation zone but have played two games fewer than a number of their rivals down at the bottom. Watford will be without suspended defender Marco Cassetti as they look to keep their automatic promotion hopes alive. But they welcome back Matthew Briggs and Alex Geijo as they bid to finish the season by breaking into the top two places in the npower Championship. Cassetti was given his marching orders in Saturday's disappointing 3-2 defeat at Peterborough and now serves a one-match ban. On-loan full-back Briggs was named on the bench at London Road before withdrawing having picked up a groin injury in the pre-match warm-up. Striker Geijo, meanwhile, missed out altogether due to a knee injury but both are fit for consideration against the Lions. Otherwise, fit-again midfielder John Eustace is still lacking match fitness after his long-term back injury, while defenders Fitz Hall (hamstring), Nyron Nosworthy (Achilles), Neuton (dislocated shoulder) and Tommie Hoban (ankle) all remain sidelined. The third-placed Hornets are now six points adrift of Hull with four matches remaining and could see their hopes of a top-two finish disappear completely this week. COMMENTS WELCOME > ENJOY THE GAME COYH COYH COYH
With the injuries and various players not at their best it will be an interesting team selection. Thanks Mex. Five stars.
I'd have thought this was the perfect game for you following a bad run, Millwall are a fairly poor side, in fairly poor form, who had their dreams swiftly shot dead in the cup and will most likely still be hurt. However, would I be right in thinking Cassetti could be a big loss for you? He looked good at the KC, a sort of calm, composed figure at the back, and weren't you running out of centre-backs already? Presumably he's only out for the one game though with it being for preventing a goal-scoring opportunity? Anyway, obviously I'll have to hope you lose but I think you'll win this one, in fact I think you'll take 10 from the last 12 available, will that be enough? I have no idea, but even if it isn't at least you'd go into the play-offs with a bit of form rather than the sort of slump you're in now.
Cheers, another logical, honest Hull fan. Not like some who have recently posted !! I think Hull are up now, you have enough grit, needed at this time of the season, and class to get you through, unfortunately.
Ok guys - you will have to work with me here..... you see that straw I'm clutching? Well I am just going to clutch at it for a little bit longer.... I know we have already all gone on and on about the permutations and calculations and whatnot - and the Championship has shown us that you cannot predict anything with any certainty - apart from that if you are not on your game you can lose to anyone. Clearly Hull are now massive massive favourites to join Cardiff in the prem (and well deserved for keeping their heads after we beat them and picking up 2 massive wins). However, after what Peterborough did to us at the weekend does no-one else think that they could drop points in their next 3 games against the bottom 3 clubs? Put it this way - If we beat Millwall and they lose to Wolves (unlikely I know but Wolves have been playing better of late) - 3 points seems doable again. Anyway - just thought I would throw that in there to all those saying we should start playing 'fringe players' in preparation for the playoffs. I think we should play our strongest team tomorrow night - and whatever happens at Molyneux we will hopefully start re-ignite our confidence for the likely playoff scenario in May
Mathematically we could still do it but in the real world we wont.. Bookies are in business to make money and they have Hull at 16-1 ON to go up. Says all you need to know.
I think Hull have 2nd now. I can't see us winning all 4, and Hull losing 2/drawing 3 to drop the required 6 points we need them to. It seems the experience is seeing them through. I do hope that with the pressure of taking 2nd is off now, and we can get back to winning ways - need to be going intot he play-offs with some good form. Maybe rest Vydra and 1 or 2 others (Chalobah, Battocchio) until the play-offs? As for this game... let's hope we meet a deflated Millwall, and get some form back going into the last 3 and the play-offs!
A decent performance would be nice. All very well saying lets rest our keys players but we still need 4 points to guarantee a play off spot.
I think we're all feeling a bit more confident after a good performance at Ipswich but the two remaining away games against Wolves and Barnsley have been a continuing concern. They both had very bad results at the weekend and have been hit by suspensions and injuries but they must be desperate to get out of the bottom three and there are no "gimmes" in this league. Barnsley have beaten us at the KC stadium and are the sort of strong, busy team that City tend to struggle against. So, it's fingers crossed up here - two good performances could settle things but.........
You are beginning to sound like Cardiff were - nervous about getting over the line when in reality you are all but there. It is over - the combination of results we need is just not going to happen. We have not won back to back games since February - when we got that damned Manager of the Month Award
Quite a number on our board are very confident - some of the older ones amongst us are just a bit more conditioned to seeing City fail over the years. I do think that events are moving in our favour but would still hesitate to take anything for granted.
Ak, the PL season finishes on 19th May which is after both legs of the semi-final, so I can't see any reason why not.
For some very strange reason my confidence has returned about the final outcome for this season. I have been very despondent about our chances since the Blackpool game but that has all changed now. (Mrs NZ has often told me that I should see someone about my delusions!)
For some very strange reason my confidence has returned about the final outcome for this season. I have been very despondent about our chances since the Blackpool game but that has all changed now. (Mrs NZ has often told me that I should see someone about my delusions!)
Some early news about who will be available and who won't. http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/10356424.Briggs_fit_as_Cassetti_misses_out/
