SNSUN

There's also potentially the loss of players we have now if we don't go up. Scienza, Jander, THB, Charles possibly, all will have admirers over the summer and we'd be back to trying to replace them. Maybe even one two others. I wouldn't bet against SR cashing in, we know what they're like.

We'll drop points too. WBA will be tricky but they're beatable but after that we have Coventry, a Norwich side bang in form and Ipswich with Oxford in the middle, who aren't giving up the fight. 7 to 9+ points from those and we should still be in the running. Any less and we'll probably fall short even before we reach the Wrexham game. My head says we won't make it. The teams above us may drop points but right now they're all in good form themselves. My heart says we can still do it, but it will be close. One thing today's games have done is probably cut a few of the chasing pack from the race. I think Preston down are probably out the race now, Brum if they don't win their game in hand could be too. I thought Watford would drop a bit but the better Still brother seems to have got them a few results. Derby are still a threat too. But we can only keep trying to win our own games, the rest is out of our hands.

Tricky when we have 4 CMs other than him, 3 of whom are amongst the best players in our squad and one good up and comer. Rom was signed when Charles was injured, Bragg hadn't featured much and Flynn was shitting through the eye of a needle. It was a good move at the time but now we have the other 4, I don't see him starting much.

I'm absolutely mullered at work today so missing this game completely. Just popped on the match thread quickly to say "woot" and "COYS" and other uplifting sentiments. As you were.

To be fair, they've had little to cheer about this season and beating their biggest rivals is a big result. But what he was really celebrating was beating our points total from last season. 😁

Yep, a win tomorrow and other results will make things a bit clearer as to who our players off rivals are. West Brom will probably be a different kettle of fish after the FA Cup weekend with perhaps a new manager in place and renewed belief in survival without Ramsey but from current form, you have to, on paper at least, see 6 points from those two fixtures. If that happens we should be well in the mix with perhaps a few of the other play off contenders dropping off a bit. That's if we win the next 2. But we are Saints and we do Saintsy things.

Bristol City vs Watford tonight Draw please I guess. Watford win would better than a City win.

We have the best form in the League since Tonda took over, just spanked a promotion rival 5 nil and probably have the best squad on paper in the League. Our next two fixtures are Wednesday and WBA. If we were Hull we'd absolutely be looking over my shoulder at that with some concern. We can only do what we can do, if the teams above us keep winning and we finish outside the play-offs, well done them. We rebuild in the summer and hopefully take our good form into next season. But I'm quietly positive we'll get in there. Whether we win them or not, who knows. Be we do have recently history of it.

That's probably Sheffield United out of the play off hunt then, 9 adrift with a worse goal difference than Wrexham. So that's good, even if it means Coventry win. Birmingham just did not turn up tonight. Shame on one hand as it means Millwall are now 9 ahead of us - I was hoping to rein them in (could still happen I guess but less likely now). On the plus side it keeps a direct promotion rival behind us by a point and with a worse goal difference. The Stoke win puts them 3 points behind us. Miraculously, they're still in the play-off hunt. Norwich? They don't affect us but my missus will be happy. Only 2 goals though, Wednesday won't just roll over at the weekend.

The Championship MLT - drifts in and out of games but comes up with the goal contributions when it matters! I did notice at one point during the game yesterday (I plan on re-watching the whole game as I've Sky+ it) that Fin put pedal to the metal chasing after a ball and he's got decent acceleration when he wants to use it. I agree with some that I think he'd struggle in the Prem but for this level he was a good signing. He's not at his prime yet either.

Tonight's Championship games: Millwall vs Birmingham Norwich vs Wednesday Sheff Utd vs Coventry Stoke City vs Oxford Obviously the big game for us here is Millwall vs Birmingham. I guess a draw may be the best result for us. Brum are one point behind us and still well in the race for a play-off spot and Millwall are still catchable and only 6 ahead. If I had to pick a winner I'd be tempted to go for Brum - I think Millwall are catchable by us whether or not Brum go 2 points ahead of us. The Norwich game is irrelevant to us really but the result is probably inevitable anyway. I want Coventry to beat United. We won't catch them and we don't want Sheff Utd 2 points behind us either. Stoke have been awful lately but they are still only 6 behind us. Oxford are fighting for their lives. I think Stoke win this to go 3 behind us but I hope for an Oxford win.

If Leo hadn't scored I think there would have been a bit of a tiff. However after Leo's shot was parried for the Matsuki goal, I suspect Larin had got himself into such a good position that he'd have knocked in the rebound anyway. It's not often we praise a striker for a performance in which he doesn't score, but last night showed how much of an asset Larin can be for the rest of the season. Keep him and Ross fit and we will be in good shape.

We went off the boil after a good opening 15 minutes really but the goal just before half time killed it. After the break we looked more forward focused and clinical and took our chances well. I think we took our foot off the gas after the 5th goal went in and managed the game well.

WBA have sacked Eric Ramsey. Shame, just before we play them.

Wednesday up next. Surely it couldn't happen twice in one week. Could it?