Football Special

Hope you're right but I'll be very surprised, those of us travelling should make enough noise regardless, its a great away end when having the full allocation, lunch time games can be a bit flat though

Scoring the winning goal in the last min at Wembley before being carried on the shoulders of Jack Stephens on a lap of honour whilst the fans sing his name, make it happen Tonda 👍

I could well be wrong on overall number to be fair, and still impressive turn out 250 miles away for an early kick off. not quite the same scenario but we sold out for Norwich in the league cup back in August but away end was probably half full, fans buying what were £10 tickets to get an away credit and not bothering to go. Once digital tickets become more common they'll probably start only awarding away credits once the ticket has actually been used.

Preston will fancy their chances after we lulled them into a false sense of confidence with possibly our worst performance of the season at St Mary's back in November, remembered for being the end of the Great Will Still era and Nathan Wood telling a fan to fuck off (I think it was "Thripp87" who was shouting at Wood to get some more rest)

There's loads i know with tickets not going now. 5500 sold a lot on the off chance its a promotion game , I'll guess at 3500 showing up , maybe a bit more

You've gone and jinxed it now haven't you

If we ended up with Millwall over 2 legs 100% they'd only give us the upper tier for that. On that subject only need to give away fans 2000 tickets in play offs but Saints seem incapable of reducing our away allocation at St Mary’s now

Im going to be up all night worrying about that now. If anything playing in a match reduces chance of injury as they wont be getting things out of the fridge

You are right we are very different, having Larin up front instead of Adam Armstrong transforms that. Our FA Cup run also a good rehearsal for play off football. Having said that if we have to go away to MIddlesbrough needing a win 2nd leg I dont fancy us to do it, just something about that place

Lol some of you are getting yourselves into a right panic. The club pay plenty of analysts and fitness coaches, they'll be aware of any players carrying a knock (Azaz for example) , others will be fine and will want to play games , we have a week's break after Preston to rest and prepare

Yeah i think beating Leeds away last game gave us a real lift going into the play offs. Our record against Millwall and Middlesbrough is worrying, not managed to beat either of those this season, just need Hull to finish 6th to complete the set

I dont think many will go that way, most that i know travelling are going up night before or at least doing some of the journey Friday stopping on the way. Trying to rely on the trains to get to Preston by midday is too risky!

Could be player comps from all the players who have now been told they'll be rested. When did we last take 5,500 that far up north? Obviously usually smaller allocations, perhaps Wigan in the FA Cup but that was a bit smaller

Weve had something like 8 games this month haven't we, FA Cup quarter final, FA Cup semi final, 2 away games abroad , certainly notice it on my bank balance

Why dont you think it matters? Finishing the season with a win and positivity matters Having home advantage in the 2nd leg matters - have a look at past play off results. If we can do that and rest some players then great, but at least have some of our 'rested' players on the bench ready to come on if needed.

Players notice it as well, message is clear - we know what's required in the play off home leg

Yeah we need him in there. Was on the bench at Swansea but mentioned he was carrying a 'knock' i think, came on briefly, then was in starting line up for Bristol City but dropped out at the last min, not seen any more details since?

Agree with you, atmosphere at times was superb as we got back into the game, one particular OWTS going around the whole stadium , players look exhausted, I think the fans are as well after the last month

Probably right, their 'replacements' should be good enough to come in, would be nice to enter the play offs on the back of a win rather than a run of 4 without just as Middlesbrough are finding form again

I think there will be loads of spares floating around for this now, taking 5.5k for a lunchtime ko in Preston was going to be a phenomenal effort even with promotion at stake , even more so now with another long trip to MIddlesbrough the following week

I agree, think that 4th place is important, Middlesbrough is tough enough without having to go there 2nd leg. We haven't been able to beat them in either game already this season, don't think we managed to beat them last time in the championship either, always feels like a bit of a bogey club

I think it would be a help to be at home 2nd leg , plus would rather go up there on a Saturday than midweek

Agree with you, Scienza very frustrating, having gone behind thought we did very well to get back into the game and take the lead. Players looked deflated at the end. 3 games without a win now, Middlesbrough in the play offs going to be bloody tough. Trip up there in January was a real low point in the season

Some pace in that Ipswich team, will be dangerous on the break, we struggle with that sometimes