Despite the fact we have had our perch rattled and have been written off by some (including yours truly) I still think there is a glimmer of hope to make the playoffs. If we come to the matches well prepared and up for the fight then our next 4 games will make or break the rest of our season. During our mini-break Lee needs to focus on the basics and if he should be fortunate enough to have most of our squad fit and ready to go then we could still be in with a shot. Barnsley, Millwall, Brentford and Birmingham are teams we should beat based on our early season form but despite our slight fall from grace the lads have a great opportunity to put things right in time for a challenge. Whether our falter is down to bad luck, timing or just another combination of the usual guff that goes on when things aren't going right is down to history now and the only focus should be how can we get maximum points (or close thereto) from these games to tell the others that we are not done and dusted just yet thank you very much. Not having seen much City action since January gave me some concern when I returned to the fold and watched some pretty dire stuff and it looked to me as if something had taken the stuffing and desire from the team and we were going about our business in a somewhat negative way. Tip tap is Ok in certain situations but I just wanted to scream at the top of my voice "Hit the bloody thing and see what happens". Shots on goal don't always go in but unless you try the how the hell will you ever know what might happen? Go for it and let's see where that takes us in the next few weeks because we all want it don't we?
Welcome back Mike We'll probably get nothing at Millwall and Birmingham may have a new lease of life with a new Manager. We still have a chance of the top 6, but personally I wouldn't back us, unless Derby get docked points for getting todays game with Cardiff called off for no reason at all.
Should have beat Brum was there-Millwall parked 10 players in their own half.Brentford always tough there.
Millwall is an interesting one, if they harbour genuine play off ambitions they will need to attack us, unlike when they came to the gate which may leave us room to exploit them. Provided of course we play the style of 2017. Brum have been a bogey side since we came back to the Championship and they are fighting for their lives so they will upset teams between now and May, as we did last year. Hopefully Brentford won’t have anything to play for by then and we can nick a win.
Millwall are becoming the dark horses to gatecrash the play offs. They are in good form at the moment and if anyone think’s that they are an easy winnable game are deluded. Brentford can on the day beat most in this division. Birmingham always seem to get a result against us. Like Bigjohnatyeo says even during our run we managed 2 out 9 points against these three teams. We complained like **** about Bolton beating us, they went on to beat Villa on the weekend. This division continues to throw up shocks.
Millwall away is always a tough ask and Brentford do play good football. I agree that we need a good run of form and that we should be realistically aiming to win a lot of these games - 8 points would be a good return, but much less wouldn't be good enough given the competition.
Millwall are also 12 or possibly 13 games unbeaten. If there is a team in the top half that are genuinely punching above their weight then it's them. Especially after the poor start they had.
I think quite a few teams in the top half can say they're punching above their weight, but I guess it depends on what you mean by genuinely. I might while away a few minutes by comparing teams' current league positions with what I would perceive as their reasonable level of expectation...
Be just if a team got into the play offs at the expense of Derby who shamefully got yesterday’s game postponed.
That is your very valid opinion but it does not affect us, it's of no consequence to our progress, we had to play Derby back in January, we had 6 or 7 players out through injuries, there was no consideration for us, we had to get on with it, horses for courses. You are looking very powerful and look to be heading for a deserved promotion, enjoy it while you can.
Yep there was nothing wrong with access into their ground,someone should be made accountable,especially when you got there from Wales.
I'm not well enough informed to have a strong opinion, but the official line is that the Football League were to ones to make the decision, following advisement: "The decision to postpone this afternoon's fixture between Derby County and Cardiff City was made first thing this morning following discussions between Derby County, Derbyshire Police and the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG)". http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43450852 In todays World, health and safety is king - if even one person was perceived to have been injured as a result of the snow, there would've been an uproar and people expecting someone's head(s) to roll. That's not to say that Derby themselves probably aren't quite happy with the situation.
Well our Manager says we are punching above our weight, but given our resources compared to Millwall's then that's what prompted my comment. But point taken in that the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds, Norwich etc are not living up their own expectations.
It might well affect Bristol City if by the time we play Derby they may have overcome their injury’s and bad form and take 3 points which could prevent eg BC from getting into play offs. Not suggesting cardiff would have won yesterday but given the form they’re in against a weakened DC team in poor form, every chance they would have. Anyway all to play for in the run in. Good luck.
Just noticed this reply to Nin's post. Derby look like one of the sides you are going to have to battle with for a playoff spot. If they'd played the game yesterday with Huddlestone suspended and their injury problems and lost, then it would have benefited you. On the other hand, if they win the rearranged game later in April with the suspension served out and players back from injury, then that is hardly going to help you - of course it affects you. You can say it's down to you, but they're currently ahead of you in the table and you still need them to be hauled in.
I wonder if you'll think the same if a derby side containing players that were injured or suspended on sunday turn us over in the rearanged fixture making you miss the playoffs by a point? Any team within a couple of points of derby at the moment should be a little aggrieved by their antics on Sunday.
I smell a rat in the drainpipe and Warnock held his nose as well. The ramifications at the end of the season based on all the "what-ifs" that will inevitably surface based on the permutations on any given day could get up the noses of teams hovering on the brink of a playoff spot. It must be remembered that Warnock has history with end of the season appeals about what happened during the campaign with no success in his appeal that improperly registered players helped his team (Sheff Utd) get relegated. West Ham were the culprits and agents were the main suspects in this case and surprise - nothing was done by the footballing authorities to rectify an apparent injustice - surprise! Hopefully this seemingly wrong decision to cancel a match based on some weather opinion (Derby?) won't have any long term backlash on any club looking for the back door to the Premiership. Especially Bristol City.
