Another job done. At this stage of the season that is all it is about. Can we now avoid our previous trick of losing the match after we go top? Brighton away is difficult. However we could be promoted next week if we win and other results go our way. Also on the last day Middlebrough, Norwich and ourselves are all at home but Bournemouth are away - that could be a help depending on next week's games We play before the others next Saturday so they all know what they have to do - if we slip up the pressure comes off them a little. On theother hand if we beat Brighton they have it all to do - and Bournemouth don't play till Monday. Has it ever been more exciting than this?
When the crowd started singing "we're top of the league" I shuddered as I hate tempting fate. But bugger it - let's enjoy the moment!
That can go either way though -sometimes a team plays beter under pressure when they have to get a result; other times they play better when the pressure is off - we just have to concentrate on doing a professional job and not taking anything for granted
Sheffield Wednesday had nothing to play for today, but they didn't give up and were very pleased with their equaliser. All teams like to have a go at the one at the top, especially when defeat means nothing to them.
As Leeds proved to our cost a couple of years ago - although, in our favour, we have a far better equipped squad now than we had then.
This time hopefully we wouldn't have to play the bulk of the game with our third choice keeper on the pitch ?
Well a win for us next week would put pressure on all the teams to win. If 2 drop points we might only need a point against SW.
All we can do is concentrate on winning our own next game, it's worked for us so far and up to slav to make sure there is only Saturday on the players minds, win win this one only thing to focus on.
Brighton away will be tough as they still need points for survival - but when did we last play an "easy" game?
Well even the Blackpool game wasn't easy for a while! Maybe Charlton at home - they'd be a very different proposition now though!
Nervewracking as it will be for us, the attitude of the teams playing the promotion contenders is a credit to the game. Whoever goes up will really have had to fight for it!
Brighton and Wed have both just given Bournemouth a really hard game for what ever reason you want to speculate on. Theses two are massive Bannana skins for us and our dream. Have to say I am pleased that we play first next weekend especially if we can get a good result. The pressure on Bournemouth next Monday if Norwich, Boro and us were all to win would be huge!!!!
As Aberdeen wrote, we just have to keep focussing on winning our games and let all the other teams worry about themselves. We seem to be playing this more like Hull did when they pipped us to second place, just do what it needs to win. Yesterday was a case in point, although we totally controlled the game we seemed a bit nervous up front, but once we went ahead, Deeney did one of the best "leadership" jobs I have seen in a long time at Watford. He drove his team to keep the ball in their half, he chased down every ball, attacked every opportunity - classic defending from the front - it's what good teams do. I think we also have an advantage with playing our away game early, the other teams will have all the pressure on them to match or better us. One big advantage for me is I can sit in a pub in Brighton and watch it all unfold!
It's probably been said but you do realise that by kicking off early next week means if we win we will be promoted before anyone else kicks a ball
What you was trying to say Chis is if we win Norwich and one of the other 2 lose then we are up before the last games are played