I think we've just witnessed a slightly different take on the 6-pointer. Us needing a win against WBA and Wigan needing to lose last night. It all went pear-shaped.... But i still see reasons to be cheerful. First of all our goal difference is worth a point on its own. If Wigan lose the next one (and surely they can't keep winning...?) and we win, we go above them. We have to assume that Wolves and Blackburn are gone (and if that's not true, then we've really had it!). So it's one from three (excluding Villa). Why do we assume that we're going to be bottom of this mini-league? We've got points in the bag above Bolton and surely Wigan can't keep going. We can definitely get 6 points from our last 4 games and we may only need 5 (if you include for our goal difference). So let's not give up on the boys yet. Yes, we keep shooting ourselves in the foot and we keep getting kicked back just when we dare believe but it's not over until it's over and if Wigan can win back to back against two of the top three, then we sure can win against 'lesser' opposition. I reckon it will come down to the Man City game but i still believe we'll get the result we need. So, let's not lose the faith just yet. I reckon there's going to be more twists and turns before the season end....!
That win will take a lot out of Wigan It's quite conceivable they lose heavily at Fulham but if they can match the performance levels they've shown against Chelsea, Arsenal, United and Liverpool I can't see them losing another game all season. I think Wigan's last two games will be enough to see them stay up anyway and they will go from strength to strength. All depends on how Bolton do, Muamba's release from hospital might give them a lift and they have 3 home games left, if they win even 2 of them and take anything at Villa, Sunderland or Stoke I think 39 points would see them safe. It will go to the wire, many more twists and turns left, all Wigan have done is raise the bar when many thought 34 points would be enough 2 months ago.
Bolton are presently on 29 points. If they win 2 and draw 3 as you say....they will be on 38 points, not 39. I think they'll get 2 wins and 2 draws max....that would put them on 37. We need to win our two home games to be on 37 too. Our superior goal difference would do the rest. Trouble is...I'm not convinced we'll beat Spurs who will be on the rebound from their cup hammering!!
Sorry Col I stand corrected. It's in the balance now. It would be easy for you to get a backlash if Spurs were in form and playing with confidence i.e Arsenal, but Spurs look devoid of ideas and confidence now. I reckon you'll stand up to be counted and beat Spurs but Bolton really do blow hot and cold. Ordinarily I'd have expected Sunderland to beat Bolton at home but after seeing the way they have performed of late I'm not so sure. Wolves could easily have taken all 3 points and so could Spurs had they showed more ambition. With Stoke you never know, but if Stoke turn up I'd be hard pushed to look beyond a Stoke win. Villa is the danger one, having been to a few Villa games myself and speaking to Villa ST's they are awful and I think it is well within Bolton's capabilities to win there, they are down to the bare bones and remember Bolton have won their already in the CC. I think Bolton will beat Swansea, draw against Spurs, draw against WBA, beat Villa and lose the other two, whether that would keep them up I don't know.
i reckon if we get two wins that should hopefully keep us up as blackburn would have to win 3 & draw 1 out of last 4 games & i can't see that, bolton would need to win 3 wins or 2 & 3 draws & i can't see that, simple eh.
I can only hope that by the time we play man city the title race is already over (and it's gone to man utd). You never know what can happen in that situation. My guess is we'll need to beat them to survive. Spurs have to bounce back at some point and I think some of the lads will have their heads down after seeing wigan's run of freakish results. It's all gone a bit quiet at hq. Draw spuds, beat stoke, lose chelscum and needing to beat man city to stay up.
Citeh seem to do better when the pressure is off them. I fancy us more there if they need something from us to take the title - they'll blow it and it could give us the points to stay up! Bolton having 5 games in 2 weeks could also help us - but I reckon we still will need 3 wins and 40 points to be safe.
The tiredness factor is interesting. Bolton - loads of games to play. Chelsea - playing Barca twice before we play them on Sunday week. Every little helps!
