This is our game in hand

[Tony Currie]

A couple of goals victory and we are 7 points clear with a 5 superior goal difference.

The pressure is then back on Middlesbrough. Win our home games and we are on 88 points.

12 games to go they need 29 points from 36.

Simples ;-)

 

[jono_t2000]

Is it worth more than two in the bush tho?

 

[Selly]

its our game in hand, until we play Blackburn in the cup, then we have a game in hand again.

5 of our last 8 games are at home - and we are away on the last day, so that run of 5 home games in 7 is probably season defining...

 

[Big Hitter]

A couple of goals victory and we are 7 points clear with a 5 superior goal difference.

The pressure is then back on Middlesbrough. Win our home games and we are on 88 points.

12 games to go they need 29 points from 36.

Simples ;-)

Hey TC didn't know you was a Maths genius as well.

 

[derfblade.3]

 

[Stretch]

If we turn Luton over on Saturday and get anything at all tonight, then I think we are definitely over hump, as it were, of these really difficult fixtures and in a commanding position.

Admittedly we have Burnley, Norwich and West Brom still to come again, but we also have Wigan, Cardiff, Brizzle and Preston all at home, as well as Udders, Sunderland and Brum away. Fuck me, if we can't get 5 or 6 more wins and a draw from that lot, we don't deserve to go up.

 

[ancientblade]

its our game in hand, until we play Blackburn in the cup, then we have a game in hand again.

5 of our last 8 games are at home - and we are away on the last day, so that run of 5 home games in 7 is probably season defining...

add to that although boro have an easier run over the next 4 games in our run of 5 out of 7 at home theyve got some tricky games so all wont be lost if they get to us in the next month

 

[Selly]

add to that although boro have an easier run over the next 4 games in our run of 5 out of 7 at home theyve got some tricky games so all wont be lost if they get to us in the next month

After tonight our run in, statistically speaking at least, is easier than Boro's.

The Average Ppg (accounting for where the game is being played) of the opponents we have to face is, after tonight, 1.41, Boro's 1.45

Looking at more recent (last 8 games) form, ours is again 1.41, and Boro's is 1.53

We do appear to have a significantly easier run in at home (1.3ppg vs 1.49), but a stiffer test away from home (1.54 vs 1.41)

Of course all numbers could change marginally depending on the outcome of the three games tonight

 

[Greystones Blade]

its our game in hand, until we play Blackburn in the cup, then we have a game in hand again.

5 of our last 8 games are at home - and we are away on the last day, so that run of 5 home games in 7 is probably season defining...

Unfortunately I remember the 1967/68 season when having beaten Spurs at home and Liverpool away we were left with 3 homes games out of the last 4 to save ourselves from relegation. Results - lost 2-3 with Fulham (having been 2-0 up), lost 1-2 with WHU and then lost 0-1 with Chelsea.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Unfortunately I remember the 1967/68 season when having beaten Spurs at home and Liverpool away we were left with 3 homes games out of the last 4 to save ourselves from relegation. Results - lost 2-3 with Fulham (having been 2-0 up), lost 1-2 with WHU and then lost 0-1 with Chelsea.

As well as in 1981 and 2006 needing a point at home to the team below us on last day.

 

[Oreyt]

They do seem to be coping with pressure better than us.

 

[DaleHillBlade]

They do seem to be coping with pressure better than us.

And that’s just their fans #rattled

 

[Rifleman ITK]

I’d say we need 4 points from reading and Luton to hold off boro, anything less is bad.

 

[Tezza1889]

We need boro to drop points, we need our strikers to start scoring, I'm nervous about tonight, but oddly enough not about Saturday.

It's the "game in hand" thing, it never works out for some fucking reason.

 

[FredZeppelin]

Is it worth more than two in the bush tho?

As the great Roberto might have said, "win tonight and on the next Saturday and we might have a hand in the bushes of two birds".
utb

 

[AndyBel1980]

A couple of goals victory and we are 7 points clear with a 5 superior goal difference.

The pressure is then back on Middlesbrough. Win our home games and we are on 88 points.

12 games to go they need 29 points from 36.

Simples ;-)

I agree, I'm thinking 88 points is the aim as well.
24 points from a possible 36 so that would be:

6 wins, 6 draws
7 wins, 3 draws, 2 defeats
8 wins, 4 defeats

Boro have 11 games and if they are to get 88 points (I think their GD could be better if they were to achieve 88 points). Those 28 points would need to be 9 wins, 1 draw, 1 defeat.

Added to the fact that they've won 6 out of their last 7, that would be 15 wins from the last 18 which would be unbelievable. If they do that then they deserve it as that is ludicrous form.

I know I've not mentioned Blackburn, I just don't think that they can bridge the gap.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Does history show how good we are when we have game/games in hand??,my recollection is we are'nt very good when want the points.

 

[Selly]

Does history show how good we are when we have game/games in hand??,my recollection is we are'nt very good when want the points.

In 2012 on this day we had a game in hand over "that lot"

That was against Colchester and we drew.

Can't recall any significant games in hand in the Wilder promotion years.

 

[Stretch]

They do seem to be coping with pressure better than us.

There is far less pressure on the team who is doing the chasing down though, and statistically speaking it is still unlikely that they will over take us. All of that creates more of a free hit mentality, where as we are now spending every minute looking over our shoulder, which is the complete opposite.

 

[Oreyt]

There is far less pressure on the team who is doing the chasing down though, and statistically speaking it is still unlikely that they will over take us. All of that creates more of a free hit mentality, where as we are now spending every minute looking over our shoulder, which is the complete opposite.

Yeah, agree. It's this situation that tests your character though.

 

[Stretch]

Yeah, agree. It's this situation that tests your character though.

True. We need the likes of Egan, Norwood, Bash, Baldock, Fleck etc to remember that they've experienced being in a tussle for 2nd place before and came out on top.

That gives me hope that we have the mentality. Add in the quality of our other players and you'd hope we have enough to see it through.

 

[Bell4]

its our game in hand, until we play Blackburn in the cup, then we have a game in hand again.

5 of our last 8 games are at home - and we are away on the last day, so that run of 5 home games in 7 is probably season defining...

Great point

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

COME ON BLADES.

 

[Freddie]

As the great Roberto might have said, "win tonight and on the next Saturday and we might have a hand in the bushes of two birds".
utb

Or as a wise man once said: ‘One in Kate Bush is worth two in the hand’.

 

[Proper Blade]

They do seem to be coping with pressure better than us.

Pressure is when you're in 2nd and other teams are chasing you. Boro still aren't within striking distance of us - let's see if it's the same when they have a chance to overtake us, or they're the ones in 2nd.

Forest spent the second half of last season slowly reeling Bournemouth in, only to shit themselves when they finally had a chance to overtake them.

 

[Selly]

Forest spent the second half of last season slowly reeling Bournemouth in, only to shit themselves when they finally had a chance to overtake them.

True, but it would be far more preferable to not give them the opportunity to shit themselves by taking care of our own business.

 

[Greenblades]

We are not even trying… fucking heartless !!

 

[originaltrueblade]

Tedious need a rocket up their arse

 

[Sydney Blade]

They just seem to be getting in each others way. Don’t think bash and bogle really gel and no one seems to want to gamble on either taking on a man or trusting our player in possession and sprinting into the mixer. As a result, we play multiple passes in the channel and toss in aimless (often poor) balls at hip height into no one.

 

[Selly]

Get the fek in!!!!

Performance wasn't great, but I'll take it right now. Especially against a team with as good a home record as them.

Feels a lot like the win at Preston under Wilder - we weren't great that day either but we ground it out.