Sky has had a look at positions/games left/etc... http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/10169944/who-will-win-championship-promotion?
Just waiting for our game @ Derby at the very least ? +++++++++++++++++++++ Brighton next go to Cardiff City "Live" on sky sports more or less at the same time as our game @ Arsenal is being played. Brighton then go to Brizzle on Tuesday. Neither of those games will be easy for the Seagulls. Looking at the table now,, all 4 play-off position teams are into double figures with draws. Guess that is why they are only in positions 3-6.!!!
Really? If those two are still capable of staying up come the end of the season they may be harder games than a team sitting slap bang in the middle with nothing to play for.
Boro are in relegation form - 3 points out of last 15. Expect a revival once Rhodes settles a bit. Derby have gone. Brighton are very hard to breakdown/defensively set up....but do they have the firepower in the run-in? Burnley- never really been Top 2 all season, but showing a worrying doggedness. Sheff Wed- like Belgium in Brazil WC2014, everyone's favourite Dark Horse/Owl/Pig...Hooper is a great buy and Forestieri was already among the goals. The one team who look like they have the momentum/belief/fans to put together a very strong late run. But not pulled up any trees against the Top 5 City- on the inside track, best squad and most experienced manager for promo to the PL. Occasional lapses against weak opposition away, but that appears to have been remedied now. Our wobble was only away, not matched by a home one like Boro's, Derby's, Burnley's was. Will other teams shut up shop like BHA did last night and stop our home form? Will we find it easier to pick up points away from the KC now where teams will open up more? 16 games left for City ....32 points would be nice. 8 home games brings 24 points. A couple of away wins soon would ease the pressure to win every home game. In a perverse way, the recent slumps of Boro and Derby enabling SWFC, BHA and BFC to catch up means that there will be a lot vital more games between the other 5 teams, meaning 90 points may not be needed for us to get automatic promo.
Hollowhead states that Boro will definitely finish in the top 5, guaranteed. Then in his next sentence states that they will finish in the top six!!! Surely top 5 guaranteed, means finish in the top 5, NOT 6!
Its far to early to call it a 'run in' with about a third of the season left to play. I also don't think the opponent matters as much as they emphasise, you only have to look at who we've lost to this season to realise every game is as important as the next, league position means naff all in this league, if you don't turn up and play your best then you can get beaten in any given fixture.
Consistency, strength in depth, a manager with the road map to guide his squad, will be the key attributes. Unfotunately, we won't have full houses of raucous noisy fans, but I'm hoping our new pre match light show and our phalanx of big flag-wavers, can see us over the line.
One things for sure, with 12 points between ourselves and the team in 7th, the top 2 will definitely come from the present top 6; I don't see another team making up that ground. Also IF Derby get back on track, I can't at this stage see any other team breaking into the top 6; if they don't then can see only 1 or 2 teams who could make it. All very tight
At this stage in our last season in the Championship (final position in brackets): 1 Cardiff (1) 2 City (2) 3 Watford (3) 4 Palace (5) 5 Leicester (6) 6 Boro (16) 7 Brighton (4) Remarkable how little changed between Feb and May, apart from Boro getting just 9 points from 14 games.
I am expecting both Rotherham and Bolton to be toast by then. Certainly Bolton. Our rivals have a much tougher final 2 games as has been mentioned already.
It's still hellish tight... League Table Team P GD Pts 1 Hull 32 29 63 2 Burnley 33 25 62 3 Middlesbrough 31 25 61 4 Brighton 33 11 60 5 Sheff Wed 33 15 54 6 Derby 32 15 54
Looking like the top 2 will come from the current top 4? Preston on a hell of a run, outside bet for the play off's?
