So a great result for us tonight, Bolton have thrown away their game in hand and damaged their GD. So here is how I see us staying up: We MUST take all 3 points against Stoke, giving us 37 points. We then need Bolton to loose. Giving us a 3 point advantage going into the last game. Bolton can then win their last game, and we just need to keep the goals out to stay up on GD Keep the faith.
Nobody is going to disagree with that analysis. Just wish it were that simple. If we fail to beat Stoke we are down. Whatever Bolton's result on Saturday, us failing with Citeh away in the last game of the season, will be all the incentive Bolton need to get a result at Stoke. I don't share the general opinion that Bolton will not win another point this season. I think however that we will need to be up for the battle at the Etihad. Let's keep the defensive capitulations down to our neighbours for this season. Although it is still mathematically possible for any two of five teams to go down, 3 points on Saturday will go a long way to guaranteeing that we are not one of the two and put the spotlight very much on Bolton. It will be interesting to see how Hodgson's appointment affects West Brom on Saturday. I believe that he will send them out in the right frame of mind and that the Baggies will want to see him off at The Hawthorns with a stylish classy performance. Hope so anyway.
There's only one way to look at the remaining scenario. If we win our two games, we stay up. I hope that is all Hughes and co. are focusing on.
Good job we are playing Stoke first Nines! Other way round, MH would have us just looking for a point at City which would have meant no points there for sure!
you are all looking at it the wrong way.... simply we need to get the same amount of points as Bolton.... that may be 1, 2 ,3 ...whatever ... it doesn't matter as long as they don't get 1 more than us. It could even be 0 points over the next 2 games.
I don't like his tactics Oslo. He is playing too close to the edge. Sparky's away form is nothing short of shocking, and we really didn't deserve this.
Oops. I think that point had been missed in the "let's match Bolton's results" scenario. Anyway how exactly does a team plan to do that when everyone is playing at the same time and there are opponents participating in thiose games with different ideas. Win against Stoke is essential. You can't agree to settle for a defeat just because Bolton are losing. We can't really go for it at Citeh. Because Hughes does not seem to know how to do it and we simply cannot trust our defence as a 5 man defence against the best attack in the country. 11 man defence might be a different proposition. Hate to say it but after Chelsea, all out negativity is likely to be the best option at the Etihad with castration available for anyone who does not step up to the mark by getting to crosses and balls into the box first.
We need to beat Stoke. I can see Bolton beating West Brom or at worse for them getting a draw. It is obviously going to go down to the last game no matter what but we need to beat Stoke to stand a chance. That will give us the same points as Wigan as well and an equal(ish) goal difference if Blackburn beat them which I can also see happening. Stoke is key and a must win! What a nightmare!
