Just how important is the Boxing Day Match ?

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
But we tend to do better against the top teams in the league, always have and this season is no exception. Apart from Cardiff, we've beaten the other teams in the top 6 (all at home admittedly) and Cardiff are the only team in the top 10 to have beaten us in the league.

Can see this as a positive as with the exception of Cardiff the best the other teams in the top 6 can do is be level on points with us over 2 games (the home and away fixture). Then it will come down to who does better against the rest of the division.
 
But we tend to do better against the top teams in the league, always have and this season is no exception. Apart from Cardiff, we've beaten the other teams in the top 6 (all at home admittedly) and Cardiff are the only team in the top 10 to have beaten us in the league.

And that would be the crucial thing. As well as we have done against them, they were, as you say, at home. With the exception of Cardiff, we've still got to away to every side in the top 8 (effectively top 9 actually, as surely only games in hand are stopping Birmingham from being in the top 9 at present).

That Jan - mid-Fed period includes away trips to Brighton, Birmingham and West Ham (as well as tough tests vs Cardiff, Leicester and Burnley at home).
 
As we said before. you look to win every game so, in effect, every game is a must-win. If you don't win your first game it builds pressure on winning subsequent games. Lose enough games and ambition stops from aiming for promotion to one of survival, or just muddling through. Yeah, Boxing Day is crucial enough.

Welcome to Not606. Let me find a half-decent smiley. There you go. <cheers>