Ten-week form in the relegation mini-league

Since the beginning of November, the records of the six teams that have been vying to stay clear of the relegation line:

Southampton: 12 games played. 4 wins, 5 draws, 3 losses (17 points). Goal differential: +2.

Reading: 14 games played. 3 wins, 3 draws, 8 losses (13 points). Goal differential: -10.

Aston Villa: 13 games played. 3 wins, 4 draws, 6 losses (13 points). Goal differential: -18.

QPR: 13 games played. 2 wins, 5 draws, 6 losses (11 points). Goal differential: -8.

Wigan: 13 games played. 3 wins, 2 draws, 8 losses (11 points). Goal differential: -11.

Newcastle: 13 games played. 2 wins, 2 draws, 9 losses (8 points). Goal differential: -10.


Goal differential stands out a little, doesn't it?

 

It does

 

We keep going up a place because of our GD when all else is equal...would never have thought that after the start we had. Tbf, it's only one bad game v Arsenal that made us look very bad.

 

Great stats Schad. You should rename yourself Schtatto! Seriously though, the only problem I see is that our form may be about to take a dive and teams like QPR and Reading are picking up a bit.

 

I'm worried about goal damage on Wednesday. Without being negative (well this is a negative comment coming!) I would settle for a loss by one goal only.

Obviously I want us to win, but can't see it. A draw would be a very, very,very, very good result and if we only lose by a single goal we get them out of the way without doing a Villa!

No7

 

If QPR can win there, why can't we?

 

I think I'd take a 1-0 defeat and run, if offered it.

 

QPR were very lucky. Anyone can win there, it's just not likely.

 

I'm fearing for Pardew's Geordies a bit, he has a history of having a good start at clubs and then slumping the next season (West Ham, Charlton)...I still think that Villa will get better with experience...My three to go down are Reading, Wigan and one from West Ham, Norwich and Newcastle.

 

You forgot to mention his second season with us.

 

They do have to sort it out rather quickly...Reading at home and Villa away in their next two, which could either see them reestablish a bit of breathing room, or confirm them as contenders. 0-0 draws all around, please.

 

Would prefer Newcastle to win both...keep both teams down.

 

Can't see us getting anything at Chelsea, but before the game, I'd happily settle for a two-nil loss rather than six-nil thrashing.

 

I think most sane Saints fans would definitely take a 1-0 with no injuries or suspensions.

 

I'd take a 1-0 loss and be over the moon with a draw.

My prediction is we take the lead and throw it away, getting a draw. We then all mutter about 2 points dropped in a depressive manner "a la Stoke", totally forgetting we were all saying before the match that we were predicting a thumping and would take a narrow loss!

 

I'll take that

 

There is no way we will do a Stoke, we may score 2 own goals but there is no way Rickie will miss a pen

 

I will never be accepting of a defeat. I want Saints to win all the time, and will always be disappointed when we lose. That being said, i try to follow the "not too high not too low" philosophy.

 

It's wise to go one game at a time. You shouldn't look too far ahead and wonder where your points are coming from. We have sorted out many of our problems and the team have their confidence back...the shame is that we've had too many draws. It disguises the fact that we are a team in form going into the second half of the season and still recovering from a terrible start. QPR and Reading have to overcome their points deficit on us and hope we don't get any points in the meantime. Aston Villa are a very young side who are struggling defensively....I can see at least 3 teams below us at the season end, though there will still be bumps to come.

 

Only Spurs, Everton, Man Utd and Arsenal have actually lost fewer games than us in that period, and we are tied with Man City, Swansea and Stoke. This puts us in pretty good shape for the next couple of months I think.