The Run In

Gastronomic

Gastronomic

Well-Known Member
Mar 9, 2011
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It's going to be a tense few weeks, but how do you think the run in is going to shape up?

Northampton

Gas (h)

Posh (a)

Ipswich (h)

Gillingham (a)

Blackpool (h)

Sunderland (a)


Swindon

Posh (h)

Rochdale (a)

Wimbledon (a)

Portsmouth (h)

MK Dons (a)

Ipswich (h)

Wigan (a)


Gas

Cobblers (a)

Lincoln (h)

MK Dons (h)

Portsmouth (a)

Crewe (h)

Blackpool (a)


Wimbledon

Accrington (a)

Ipswich (h)

Swindon (h)

Oxford (h)

Ipswich (a)

Rochdale (h)

Portsmouth (h)

Lincoln (a)


Wigan

Doncaster (a)

Sunderland (h)

Crewe (h)

Shrewsbury (a)

Burton (h)

Hull (a)

Swindon (h)


Rochdale

Fleetwood (a)

Swindon (h)

Accrington (h)

Blackpool (h)

Crewe (a)

Wimbledon (a)

Doncaster (h)

MK Dons (a)
 
I have tried to be as objective and unbiased as possible in predicting the results for everyone - not easy when it involves Rovers - and sadly, I have the final points tally as being Northampton 44, Swindon 44, Rovers 43, Wimbledon 42, Wigan 40 and Rochdale 40, which would obviously see us drop into league 2. I reckon our main chance of survival will be the next 3 games, away to Northampton and then two home games against Lincoln and MK Dons. If we can keep today's type of performance going, we might just do enough in the next 3 games to escape the drop - can't see us doing that well in our last 3 games, away at Portsmouth, home to Crewe and away to Blackpool. Would hate needing something at Blackpool to survive, not sure this squad are good enough to keep today's positive performance going for more than the odd game, and don't forget, Doncaster are having a rubbish run of form themselves at present. Fingers crossed for lots of things to gel together for us!!
 
I thought that at times today we looked like a team that wanted to survive in this division. I noticed they doubled up when Walker had the ball and he didn't get a lot of space but he put in a good performance. Still not convinced about Harries but Martinez was another good player for us today. Not quite sure what Mark Little has to do to get game time convinced he will be surplus to requirements at the seasons end

McCormick work rate was superb and his goals well taken, Westbrookes free kick delivery was poor and needs sorting out as we wasted some good positions through poor delivery but we got three points
 
I think Swindon and Northampton will get dragged down and we'll just about scramble clear. The mood after today's game could be a good sign that the lads are up for the fight. Let's hope so anyway.
 
On paper I think we have the "easiest" run in but at this stage your opponent's league position counts for little.

As you say Gastro, Swindon and Northampton will probably get dragged back into it but it's absolutely essential that we beat Northampton on Saturday - that game could decide our season.

There's been so many false dawns with this squad of players this season that I just don't know what to expect from us each time we take to the pitch. Yesterday was an excellent performance but will we follow it up with another?
 
McCormick had the look of someone who's been working on his finishing, and hopefully he'll keep on converting those good positions he keeps getting into.
 
Bluebaldee said:
it's absolutely essential that we beat Northampton on Saturday - that game could decide our season.
Click to expand...

I said the same thing when we were about to face Wycombe. We won that game and looked good for staying up. But what happened in the end?

I think looking at those fixtures, none of the bottom 6 look like surviving. Could come down to goal difference and all 6 teams are very similar. We can't afford any heavy results. Our issue is going to be scoring enough goals.
 
Our results/form over the past ten games is so poor, we must be favourites for the drop. But we're also due an upturn in form, and hopefully this is it...
 
Gastronomic said:
Our results/form over the past ten games is so poor, we must be favourites for the drop. But we're also due an upturn in form, and hopefully this is it...
Click to expand...
To be honest, that upturn in form is exactly what I'm praying for - we can't keep on being so poor, and hoping the good performance against Doncaster will give us a little impetus and belief against Northampton. Certain sides around us are due a poor run, Northampton being one of them, reckon they've been playing better than they really are recently. so praying Joey can fire the lads up to bring them crashing down again.
 
They're all really tough games in the run in, and it's hard to see the lads getting much out of any of them. Sometimes they play better against the better teams, but it's hard to see where the points are going to come from. Having said that, four points from six isn't bad, but Northampton looked so poor yesterday and were there for the taking, so it really felt like two points lost. I still think Swindon and Northampton will go down along with Rochdale, so it's probably between Wigan, Wimbledon and us for that last place, and the Latics and Dons seem to be in better form.
 
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Looks like we're down barring a miracle.

Wimbledon were playing 10 men from 28 minutes, however when we played Ipswich their keeper somehow stayed on the pitch when he clearly took Ayunga out of the game when he was clear in on goal. Unfortunately these subtle, but crucial refereeing decisions do make a difference, and we can count ourselves very unlucky because of a sending off, a perfectly good goal that was disallowed, no sending off and a dodgy penalty, all of which cost us precious points.
 
Gastronomic said:
Looks like we're down barring a miracle.

Wimbledon were playing 10 men from 28 minutes, however when we played Ipswich their keeper somehow stayed on the pitch when he clearly took Ayunga out of the game when he was clear in on goal. Unfortunately these subtle, but crucial refereeing decisions do make a difference, and we can count ourselves very unlucky because of a sending off, a perfectly good goal that was disallowed, no sending off and a dodgy penalty, all of which cost us precious points.
Click to expand...
Whilst you're right in what you say, I'm afraid we have been the architects of our own downfall over the last few games, the number of points we have literally flushed down the loo is unforgivable, losing at home to Swindon was disasterous, allowing Northampton to equalise last week are just 2 examples of points thrown away that will very likely be the difference between us surviving or being relegated. Damage has already been done in all probability, and even if we were to win every one of our last 5 games, you can bet your life that all the other sides we are battling with to survive will do the same, knowing how our luck has gone this season!
 
I know the following teams are fighting for their lives too but if you can't beat Rochdale, Northampton, Wimbledon, Wigan and Swindon, then you deserve to go down.

This seasons results vs those 5 teams...

Rochdale:
1-1 draw
1-2 defeat

Northampton:
2-0 win
1-1 draw

Wimbledon:
4-2 win
0-0 draw

Wigan:
1-2 defeat
0-0 draw

Swindon:
1-0 defeat
0-1 defeat

30 points available throughout the season and we got just 10 points from them. Says it all.
 
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