Played 6 Won 2 Lost 2 Drawn 2 8 points 3 home games = 6 points (Bolton, Liverpool) 3 away games = 2 points (Chelsea, Norwich) 2 losses against Man U at home and away to Swansea. All in all not a bad month having played 3 of the top 5 teams on the league. Happy?
I agree. We've got a boat load of easier games coming up. I think we'll be amongst the top 9 by the end of February. Blackburn away Newcastle at home WBA at home Man City away Stoke at home QPR away Wolves at home I can see at least four wins in that group. The only uber-tough games look like Man City way, although Stoke and Newcastle are no pushovers.
The next game at Blackburn could see us move 11 points clear of the bottom 3 if we can win and get 3 points. The teams under us on that day are all playing top clubs. It's a big 'IF' though as Blackburn seem to be a team who can have good games and bad games, but if we can get at them early and get a lead, it might knock their confidence. We need to treat the match as if we are playing a top club, and not a 'given 3 points'.
Feel that Blackburn is a must win, they have been terrible at home, and that result with Man U was very impressive, but Man U were very poor. Im making the trip to Blackburn, and quite looking forward to it, as we are for once in the lower not upper tier. I think a positive start is what we need, if we can get an early goal then the kean out crew (which i think is appalling by the way) will start its usual booing, and they should become suitably dispirited to us to bag the three points. I dont think its any coincidence that their appalling home form has been accompanied by their fans behaviour.
when I say must win, I dont mean our survival depends on it, e.t.c, but it is a game we need to win if we really want to push onwards this season.
Certainly Blackburn seem to play better away than at home for obvious reasons although you would hope (for Kean's sake although not for ours) than the Man U win would have quietened his critics for a while. I think that, as others have said, a positive start is a must but if we can play like we did in the 2nd half against Arsenal for most or even some of the game then we are certainly in with a good chance of a good result.
A fairly balanced summary, from an unusual source - http://http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/content/view/full/113745
It really does depend on what Blackburn turn up. Against Utd and Stoke they didn't create many chances, but more importantly against Utd they were defensively sound, limiting Utd to only five shots on target at Old Trafford. Let's hope someone takes Samba off their hands before we play them eh?
