I hadn't really noticed it but Boro are on a bad run at the moment and slipping up - can we capitalise on it tomorrow? They've not won in five and drawn their last three games all against bottom half clubs Leeds, MK Dons and Blackburn - they lost the two before that against Forest and Bristol City - not impressive current form. They had a purple patch just before going top by beating Brentford, Derby, Sheff Wed, Brighton, Burnley, Birmingham and Ipswich all in a row. What I saw of them then made me think we'd not have a chance up there - but maybe things have swung around a bit this last couple of weeks? I'm always dubious we can play two consecutive games at the same level but now is the right time to do it. One point would do for me but all 3 shouldn't be beyond us.
sounds like the results we've been getting. Can't beat teams towards the bottom. We need to put a string of 4-5 games together (don't have to be all wins), but 11 points from the next 5 games would push us into the top 6. With the teams we've got to play in that period, if we can't get 11 points we need to forget top 6.
I liked the way the team lined up against Brighton, if unchanged, feel we could get something up there tomorrow. Night game, long journey up north, past the big statue, would be fabulous result, anything other than a defeat!
Same team = great. However, I have a bad feeling Slade will be putting Ameobi back into the starting line up...
Or it is part of the deal that Ameobi must be in the 18 if fit and available. Just so long as he is not in the starting 11. Morrison may be back in the squad tonight and I would have Noonie in instead of Saadi or Zohore rather than Ameobi.
He won't change the 11 unless someone isn't fit imo. He might be many things but absolutely ****ing mental isn't one of them. Ameobi can have Zahore or Saadi's bench spot if he's got to be in the 18. Surely we get to decide if he's fit enough anyway though?
Decision made..........................................................................................and ignored!!!
Slade must surely realise that Boro at home won't let us play to our strengths as Brighton did. It will be a lot tighter and our midfield will have to do more defending than they are used to. City on the road are so difficult to predict. City could not win at MKD or Charlton yet were easily beaten at Derby and Hull. There again City got wins at Wolves and Huddersfield. The heart says a win, the head says a narrow defeat or draw. I still maintain that a loss tonight would not be the end of the world; it is the home game versus an inform PNE team that is the more important game.
A loss isn't a major issue tonight. Which is brilliant because it's a bit of a free hit. If we could win tonight it would be a serious statement of intent taking 6 points from the Brighton and Boro. BIG ****ing IF though!
I hate this roller coaster ride....just a wee bit of consistency up till now would have seen us in the top 3. Anyway Im now sitting on the fence with a post firmly wedged between my buttocks as to if we make the play offs......... in Russ I trust.........said that through gritted teeth...well they would be with that post stuck up my ar£e...take a draw tonight and then push on to a play off place
City not on their game and TBH not surprising result really. Don't know why I changed my prediction to a City win late on - probably explains why I'm in the relegation spots. Sounded like our defence was poor tonight; sloppy was the word often heard on radio. Typical Marshall saves a penalty and it meant naff all. I have said here that our game on Saturday v Preston is the more important of the games this week. That has to be a win but Preston are on fire.
As you'd already mentioned Nin it wasn't a make or break fixture. I'm sure we'd have all taken 3 points from Brighton & Boro before a ball was kicked. Saturday is a massive fixture. If we want playoffs we have to win games like this regardless of Preston's current form.