This league is unreal. Only six weeks ago we were looking over our shoulders at Cardiff and Brum as our biggest rivals for an auto spot now as the latest form table shows they are both probably looking at the play offs at best. 1 Southampton (P37) â 72 pts â WWDWW â Hull City A, Doncaster H, Blackpool A, Portsmouth H, Crystal P. A 2 Reading (P37) â 70 pts â WWWDW â Peterborough A, Blackpool H, West Ham A, Leeds H, Brighton A __________________________________________________ _______________________________ 3 West Ham (P36) â 67 pts - DWDDD â Leeds A, Middlesbrough H, Burnley A, Peterborough A, Reading H, Barnsley A 4 Birmingham (P36) â 59 pts â LDDLW â Portsmouth A, Cardiff H, Doncaster A, Burnley A, Crystal P. H 5 Blackpool (P37) â 59 pts â WDLLW â Leicester H, Reading A, Southampton H, Watford A, Barnsley H 6 Middlesbrough (P36) â 59 pts â LWWLL - West Ham A, Bristol C. H, Ipswich A, Brighton A, Cardiff H __________________________________________________ ________________________________ 7 Hull City (P36) â 58 pts â DDDWD â Southampton H, Leicester A, Portsmouth A, Coventry H, Millwall A 8 Cardiff (P37) â 58 pts - LDWLD â Coventry H, Birmingham A, Millwall H, Middlesbrough A, Watford H 9 Brighton (P37) â 58 pts â WDDWL - Derby H, N. Forest A, Middlesbrough H, Burnley A, Reading H 10 Leeds (P37) â 54 pts - DLDWD â N. Forest H, Millwall A, Watford H, Reading A, Derby H 11 Derby (P37) â 52 pts â DWLWW â Brighton A, Crystal P. H, Bristol C. A, Ipswich H, Leeds A 12 Leicester (P36) â 51 pts - WWLLD - Blackpool A, Hull City H, N. Forest H, Peterborough A, Doncaster H 13 Crystal Palace (P36) â 50 pts â DWDDD â BarnsleyH, Derby A, Doncaster H, N. Forest H, Birmingham A 14 Burnley (P36) â 49 pts â LLLDD - Ipswich A, West Ham H, Portsmouth A, Birmingham H, Brighton H 15 Ipswich (P36) â 48pts â LWDDW â Burnley H, Watford A, Middlesbrough H, Barnsley H, Derby A You wouldn't think an auto spot was possible for anyone outside the top three but that said six weeks ago who could have fore-seen Reading's incredible run. Thee are bound to be lots more twists and turns and anything is possible but we have the points in the bag and a great goal difference. Most importantly we have a manager who keeps the team focussed and doesn't panic. I'm really starting to believe we can go up as Champions. I think we will get three wins and a draw from our next five. That would put us on 83 points with four matches left. Can't see either Reading or West Ham beating that. What do you all think? Anyone want to predict the top 6 after the next 5 games?
Think there's a mistake on West Ham's next game...they've just played Leeds. What it does show is that over the last five games we are on the same form as Reading..though there were a couple of miracles in there! West Ham have blown it at the moment..they were in a very strong position with games in hand and have now slid back. The only constant at the top is Southampton, despite our blip. As you said, twists and turns.
I literally cannot predict the top three, anything could happen! Got a feeling that Middlesbrough and Blackpool to drop out of the playoffs, replaced by Hull and Leeds! Reading to over take us next game
Good spot Fran have West ham playing six instead of 5. Now amended 1 Southampton (P37) – 72 pts – WWDWW – Hull City A, Doncaster H, Blackpool A, Portsmouth H, Crystal P. A 2 Reading (P37) – 70 pts – WWWDW – Peterborough A, Blackpool H, West Ham A, Leeds H, Brighton A __________________________________________________ _______________________________ 3 West Ham (P36) – 67 pts - DWDDD – Middlesbrough H, Burnley A, Peterborough A, Reading H, Barnsley A 4 Birmingham (P36) – 59 pts – LDDLW – Portsmouth A, Cardiff H, Doncaster A, Burnley A, Crystal P. H 5 Blackpool (P37) – 59 pts – WDLLW – Leicester H, Reading A, Southampton H, Watford A, Barnsley H 6 Middlesbrough (P36) – 59 pts – LWWLL - West Ham A, Bristol C. H, Ipswich A, Brighton A, Cardiff H __________________________________________________ ________________________________ 7 Hull City (P36) – 58 pts – DDDWD – Southampton H, Leicester A, Portsmouth A, Coventry H, Millwall A 8 Cardiff (P37) – 58 pts - LDWLD – Coventry H, Birmingham A, Millwall H, Middlesbrough A, Watford H 9 Brighton (P37) – 58 pts – WDDWL - Derby H, N. Forest A, Middlesbrough H, Burnley A, Reading H 10 Leeds (P37) – 54 pts - DLDWD – N. Forest H, Millwall A, Watford H, Reading A, Derby H 11 Derby (P37) – 52 pts – DWLWW – Brighton A, Crystal P. H, Bristol C. A, Ipswich H, Leeds A 12 Leicester (P36) – 51 pts - WWLLD - Blackpool A, Hull City H, N. Forest H, Peterborough A, Doncaster H 13 Crystal Palace (P36) – 50 pts – DWDDD – BarnsleyH, Derby A, Doncaster H, N. Forest H, Birmingham A 14 Burnley (P36) – 49 pts – LLLDD - Ipswich A, West Ham H, Portsmouth A, Birmingham H, Brighton H 15 Ipswich (P36) – 48pts – LWDDW – Burnley H, Watford A, Middlesbrough H, Barnsley H, Derby A
Certainly no easy games. Play-offs mean even sides in the bottom half can go on a Reading type run. Let's hope you are wrong about Hull, at least until Wednesday!
I think Reading may jump over us at some stage, but I think we will regain top again because we have an easier run out and are playing Reading at SMS. Reading beating West Ham or getting a draw would also increase our auto chances. No one else in the top half is looking to be on a good run at the moment, though Hull are looking the hardest to beat and may get into top six (though not tomorrow, please).
Reading have a very tough 4 out of 5 next games.... and the one "not tough" game is Posh and they can score for fun if they fancy it...
Saints, next 5: Hull City A, Doncaster H, Blackpool A, Portsmouth H, Crystal P. A DWDWW Reading, next 5: Peterborough A, Blackpool H, West Ham A, Leeds H, Brighton A WWWWW
Now, now, Andover...one game at a time. Reading have had a draw in last five, so no reason they can't again.
Is it just me who thinks our next three are really tough games?! Remember, there have been teams who beat us away who have gone on to beat us at home. Why can't Doncaster be one of them? They have as much to fight for as we do, really, and had the same five match form to West Ham (prior to Saturday's defeat). Just hope we don't underestimate them/do step up for a performance. Correct me if I'm wrong, but no team who has beaten us this season once in the league has actually lost at second time of asking - they've either beaten us again or drawn.
Even if true, and I have no desire to doubt it, it's not a law! Totally agree that we will need to be at our best to beat Donny. Sharp to score?
I would be very surprised if Reading were able to win there next 5 games. They are looking very strong at the moment but they have some very tough games coming up. I wouldn't be shocked if we found ourselves in second place after tomorrow nights games but I think we will be able to get back on top in the coming weeks. The pressure is really on West Ham tomorrow, they have a tough game at home to Middlesborough on Sky and need to get maximum points.
I think Reading have benefited from having something to chase. Not that this is the scenario I would have wanted but if we'd been usurped by Reading this weekend, I feel that they would psychologically find it harder to maintain their run of form from the top of the table. We know this from last year when Brighton were dropping points at the top whilst us and Huddersfield caught up, well Saints more than Hudders!
I was surprised to see that apart from Saints and Reading who have taken 13 points from the last 5 games, no other team in the top 10 have acquired more than 7! It helps explain how the gap between the top 3 and the chasing pack has got so large. Who would have thought that with just 9 games left there is almost no chance of Saints finishing outside of the top 6!
