Automatic Promotion Chase

[Pilchards]

Looking at that penalty Ipswich got yesterday.

The players just know how to con the officials. That’s 3 in a row for them and it’s ones we would never of got because our players don’t know how to spin around when an opponent puts an arm on their body.

[S-Clarke]

32 minutes ago, Pilchards said:

Looking at that penalty Ipswich got yesterday.

The players just know how to con the officials. That’s 3 in a row for them and it’s ones we would never of got because our players don’t know how to spin around when an opponent puts an arm on their body.

More of a pen than the one against Boro, the biggest complaint I had with that is the Charlton GK diving over the ball.

How bad were Charlton though? That game gave me PTSD of that Forest home game under Jones, constant aimless long balls with no real plan. Ipswich weren't amazing last night by any means, and WBA will put up more of a fight I think.

[Tom57]

3 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

Even though Wednesday are sat down there with no wins in what feels like years, they've always put up a fight in every game I've seen them play. They don't really have a squad, but they've always given it a go. Definitely deserve credit, they've gone down with a bit more dignity that Leicester weirdly.

I guess their target is a win in the next two, just so they don't finish the season on negatives.

Their next game is against Oxford Utd which could be interesting because, as you said SW won't want to end on minus points and Oxford Utd would look more winnable than West Brom (their final game) but Oxford Utd HAVE to win to avoid relegation (as well as Charlton losing against Hull). So they'll probably both really be going for it. Then again I've just noticed the Charlton game is at 12:30, so Oxford could be relegated by then anyway!

[benjii]

3 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

More of a pen than the one against Boro, the biggest complaint I had with that is the Charlton GK diving over the ball.

How bad were Charlton though? That game gave me PTSD of that Forest home game under Jones, constant aimless long balls with no real plan. Ipswich weren't amazing last night by any means, and WBA will put up more of a fight I think.

Inshallah, West Brom will go for it.

[Lord Duckhunter]

I’m hoping it’s Millwall, Hull & Middlesbrough. Start of the season we wanted autos, but failing that you’d pick play offs with no relegated or promoted team in, and no one with parachute payments. The last time any of them were in the top flight was 10 years ago, they’ve all been bang average for years. The weakest 3 in the play offs for years, and unbelievably we haven’t won a game against any of them yet this season.
 

Can anybody seriously believe we won’t beat millwall or hull once over 3 games this season, I fucking don’t. So that’s the final sorted. We’re too good for Middlesbrough over 2 legs as well. 
 

Wrexham are shit as well,especially if it’s at Wembley. 
 

Provided it’s not Ipswich, we’re nailed on imo. 

[LGTL]

3 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

I’m hoping it’s Millwall, Hull & Middlesbrough. Start of the season we wanted autos, but failing that you’d pick play offs with no relegated or promoted team in, and no one with parachute payments. The last time any of them were in the top flight was 10 years ago, they’ve all been bang average for years. The weakest 3 in the play offs for years, and unbelievably we haven’t won a game against any of them yet this season.
 

Can anybody seriously believe we won’t beat millwall or hull once over 3 games this season, I fucking don’t. So that’s the final sorted. We’re too good for Middlesbrough over 2 legs as well. 
 

Wrexham are shit as well,especially if it’s at Wembley. 
 

Provided it’s not Ipswich, we’re nailed on imo. 

I agree. I know it’s split with some fans, but I’d absolutely rather face Millwall than Ipswich. The others are irrelevant really. 

[Lord Duckhunter]

19 minutes ago, LGTL said:

I agree. I know it’s split with some fans, but I’d absolutely rather face Millwall than Ipswich. The others are irrelevant really. 

I think Millwall will shit the bed at Wembley. We will take them apart. Ipswich, I’m not so sure, they’re well beatable, but they’ve had a bit of success the past 3 or 4 years, so as a club will handle it a bit better imo. The ideal scenario is Hull pulling off a surprise in the semi and knocking out the third placed side (unless it’s us of course). 

[S-Clarke]

9 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

I think Millwall will shit the bed at Wembley. We will take them apart. Ipswich, I’m not so sure, they’re well beatable, but they’ve had a bit of success the past 3 or 4 years, so as a club will handle it a bit better imo. The ideal scenario is Hull pulling off a surprise in the semi and knocking out the third placed side (unless it’s us of course). 

I agree that you'd have certainly taken a playoff battle with Boro/Wrexham/Millwall at the start of the season, facing a Cov, Leicester or Ipswich would be more challenging (Well, Leicester on paper had they turned up this year). It would be a 'nicer' group than the last playoff round up we had.

If Ipswich beat WBA at the weekend then any 2nd dream is dead, so how I'd see it panning out are 2 legs against a somewhat dispirited and out of steam Boro. I think Ipswich will finish on 85 by winning 2 of their last 3, which is all they need to do as their GD will never be overtaken by Millwall even if they win their last 2. From here it would take an almighty bottle for Ipswich to fail IMO. They can even afford to lose to us as long as they pickup a win at WBA and at home to a QPR side with their flip flops on.

Edited Thursday at 16:38 by S-Clarke

[Hawkswood]

6 hours ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

I’m hoping it’s Millwall, Hull & Middlesbrough. Start of the season we wanted autos, but failing that you’d pick play offs with no relegated or promoted team in, and no one with parachute payments. The last time any of them were in the top flight was 10 years ago, they’ve all been bang average for years. The weakest 3 in the play offs for years, and unbelievably we haven’t won a game against any of them yet this season.
 

Can anybody seriously believe we won’t beat millwall or hull once over 3 games this season, I fucking don’t. So that’s the final sorted. We’re too good for Middlesbrough over 2 legs as well. 
 

Wrexham are shit as well,especially if it’s at Wembley. 
 

Provided it’s not Ipswich, we’re nailed on imo. 

This is pretty much bang on for what Im thinking. 

[Osvaldorama]

Leicester 1-0 Millwall 

[saintant]

Finished 1-1. It was on for us if Leicester had been able to hold out for the win but now Millwall finish above us if they win at home to Oxford. Millwall looked pretty poor to be honest.

[RedArmy]

If Coburn is out next weekend you never know…. They looked shite when he went off. 
 

Over to you West Brom. 

[UpweySaint]

Okay so we need West Brom to beat Ipswich and Hull to beat Charlton tomorrow. Us to beat Ipswich on Tuesday (more goals the better) and then it’s Hoping for Millwall to drop points at an Oxford scrapping to stay up and us trying to make up any goal difference swing away to PNE. Highly unlikely but also not entirely impossible I guess … 

What I would say is the commentators were saying Millwall would be feared in the play offs. I don’t think so. Neil is no mug and they absolutely could beat us but they don’t look great based on tonight’s showing.

[Lord Duckhunter]

Personally, I can’t see it now. In some ways confirmation tomorrow makes it easier for us. Can go hell for leather at Wembley, then manage the players in the last 2. Rotate a few, rest a couple, prepare for the play offs. Rather that than push players to the brink next week and ultimately fail. Just keep us ticking over and we”ll be fully ready for the play offs. 

[CB Fry]

We are not going to do it. At least one of the other 2 will do enough. They probably both will.

Just like we were always going to beat Coventry on our last day back in 2012.

Edited Friday at 21:24 by CB Fry

[Harry_SFC]

15 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

We are not going to do it. At least one of the other 2 will do enough. They probably both will.

Just like we were always going to beat Coventry on our last day back in 2012.

Agreed it's not going to happen.

But at least if we beat Ipswich it'll go down to the last day and maybe make things semi interesting..

[Sardonic Squirrels]

Ipswich fan here of many years.     Felt compelled to register what with both teams involved for automatic promotion and we play you in a short time in a game of huge significance.     Your FA Cup involvement is going to be interesting, in fact it already is, and if you were to reach the Final again it'll make interesting focus on the remaining league games.

Disappointed that Leicester couldn't hold out for a win tonight.    Awful team there with mediocre players that are now relegated and they came within seconds of beating a team that really required it and now occupy the automatic promotion places because if it.      It surely didn't help Saints either.  

We now have to win at least 1 of our remaining games to overtake and we're not always playing that good and helped at times by questionable referee standards.      QPR at home final day is the key fixture but even that may not be enough.      That draw tonight may have seen them drop two points but it's made both our jobs tougher with games remaining.       How do you get an avatar around here 😐

[woodsaint1]

We had 12 points after 13 games and were sitting 3 points above the relegation zone. I, like many on here gave us zero chance of making playoffs. The fact that we're even in the conversation for 2nd is truly remarkable.

Ipswich will get over the line, but we're the best team in the playoffs. We just need to make sure that we turn up when it matters

[hypochondriac]

34 minutes ago, Sardonic Squirrels said:

Ipswich fan here of many years.     Felt compelled to register what with both teams involved for automatic promotion and we play you in a short time in a game of huge significance.     Your FA Cup involvement is going to be interesting, in fact it already is, and if you were to reach the Final again it'll make interesting focus on the remaining league games.

Disappointed that Leicester couldn't hold out for a win tonight.    Awful team there with mediocre players that are now relegated and they came within seconds of beating a team that really required it and now occupy the automatic promotion places because if it.      It surely didn't help Saints either.  

We now have to win at least 1 of our remaining games to overtake and we're not always playing that good and helped at times by questionable referee standards.      QPR at home final day is the key fixture but even that may not be enough.      That draw tonight may have seen them drop two points but it's made both our jobs tougher with games remaining.       How do you get an avatar around here 😐

All you really need to do is not lose to West Brom. If you lose that then the pressure is really on you. Draw or win tomorrow and you really should have enough even if you lose to us. 

[BARCELONASAINT]

9 hours ago, Sardonic Squirrels said:

Ipswich fan here of many years.     Felt compelled to register what with both teams involved for automatic promotion and we play you in a short time in a game of huge significance.     Your FA Cup involvement is going to be interesting, in fact it already is, and if you were to reach the Final again it'll make interesting focus on the remaining league games.

Disappointed that Leicester couldn't hold out for a win tonight.    Awful team there with mediocre players that are now relegated and they came within seconds of beating a team that really required it and now occupy the automatic promotion places because if it.      It surely didn't help Saints either.  

We now have to win at least 1 of our remaining games to overtake and we're not always playing that good and helped at times by questionable referee standards.      QPR at home final day is the key fixture but even that may not be enough.      That draw tonight may have seen them drop two points but it's made both our jobs tougher with games remaining.       How do you get an avatar around here 😐

I agree there has been some very questionable decisions that have gone your way but i guess it evens itself out over a season. Personally i think you will pip Millwall to second place. If you beat WBA today i think our lads will take their foot off the gas Tuesday night and coast into the playoffs hopefully avoiding any injuries.

[Baird of the land]

Need wba, hull and Oxford wins today I guess.

[Sheaf Saint]

33 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

Need wba, hull and Oxford wins today I guess.

The combined odds of that is pretty short at around 9/1. 

Hull and Oxford are clear favourites in their respective games. It's WBA winning that would really surprise me, but that's by far the most important one of the three for us today.

[sockeye]

12 hours ago, Sardonic Squirrels said:

Ipswich fan here of many years.     Felt compelled to register what with both teams involved for automatic promotion and we play you in a short time in a game of huge significance.     Your FA Cup involvement is going to be interesting, in fact it already is, and if you were to reach the Final again it'll make interesting focus on the remaining league games.

Disappointed that Leicester couldn't hold out for a win tonight.    Awful team there with mediocre players that are now relegated and they came within seconds of beating a team that really required it and now occupy the automatic promotion places because if it.      It surely didn't help Saints either.  

We now have to win at least 1 of our remaining games to overtake and we're not always playing that good and helped at times by questionable referee standards.      QPR at home final day is the key fixture but even that may not be enough.      That draw tonight may have seen them drop two points but it's made both our jobs tougher with games remaining.       How do you get an avatar around here 😐

I think you will get autos and that we will be better off for it. I fancy us against Boro, Millwall, Hull, Wrexham, whoever over two legs, or in the final. Ipswich would be more difficult than any of those

Edited yesterday at 10:57 by sockeye

[trousers]

WBA the better team versus Ipswich at the moment 

[sfc4prem]

I feel like we will come up against Boro in the playoffs, with Millwall in the final.

[trousers]

WBA close!

[trousers]

Another good chance for WBA

[trousers]

Another great chance for WBA... They really should be ahead here

Edited yesterday at 12:34 by trousers

[benjii]

That Brizzle draw is starting to look more annoying.

 

Not as annoying as the Ginger Juric though.

[Tamesaint]

If we beat Ipswich on Tuesday night there will be 2 teams on 80 points (Millwall and Ipswich) and 2 on 79 (us and boro). Goal difference could be a factor but if we happened to beat Ipswich by 3 goals that would be in our favour. 

It is unlikely but Millwall and Ipswich next Saturday could both fail to win. If we then beat  Preston and  Boro don't better our score we end up in second position. 

Simples.

[Willo of Whiteley]

Very unlikely three teams would drop points and we’d better results on the final day - but football throws up all sorts of drama!

[Football Special]

Even if we somehow beat Ipswich i think QPR at home last game is a gift for them and with their goal difference they know winning that is enough to stay ahead of Millwall. 

Millwall will beat Oxford. 

Hopefully Middlesbrough have a tough game at Wrexham and give us a chance to go back above them 

[benjii]

12 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Even if we somehow beat Ipswich i think QPR at home last game is a gift for them and with their goal difference they know winning that is enough to stay ahead of Millwall. 

Millwall will beat Oxford. 

Hopefully Middlesbrough have a tough game at Wrexham and give us a chance to go back above them 

Yeah, cant see a situation where both Milwall and Ipswich fail to win that last match.

[Miltonaggro]

Final push to win these last two games solidly and give the pack something to think about. Us being at Wembley yesterday will undoubtedly help our players should we find ourselves back there in a few weeks time. Having beaten Fulham and Arsenal and given Man City a scare I want this side and our young manager in the top flight!

[Football Special]

7 minutes ago, Miltonaggro said:

Final push to win these last two games solidly and give the pack something to think about. Us being at Wembley yesterday will undoubtedly help our players should we find ourselves back there in a few weeks time. Having beaten Fulham and Arsenal and given Man City a scare I want this side and our young manager in the top flight!

That's the worry isn't it.  We don't go up , players and possibly even manager leave,  we're back to square one 

[Miltonaggro]

3 minutes ago, Football Special said:

That's the worry isn't it.  We don't go up , players and possibly even manager leave,  we're back to square one 

It is mate, think it’s crucial to keep the manager and spine of this side together. We have the best momentum in the division so let’s hope it happens! 

[Willo of Whiteley]

37 minutes ago, Football Special said:

That's the worry isn't it.  We don't go up , players and possibly even manager leave,  we're back to square one 

I think that’s my biggest concern.

Ultimately, Tonda is under contract for another year so it would take a big pay off I’m sure now for him to be prised away.

One thing is for sure, if we don’t go up Taylor Harwood-Bellis won’t be here, probably the same for Flynn Downes, Casper Jander, Shea Charles. I wouldn’t see us signing Cyle Larin or Daniel Peretz permanently.

If we beat Ipswich then it is there to be an upset.

I personally don’t see it, but I think psychologically you have to go into the playoffs knowing you’ve done all you can rather than bottled autos with a week to go.

Edited 5 hours ago by Willo of Whiteley

[CB Fry]

Just now, Willo of Whiteley said:

Ultimately, Tonda is under contract for another year so it would take a big pay off I’m sure now for him to be prised away.

A pay off not a big pay off.

Tonda's contract won't be that valuable.

[macca155]

Not a time to be wobbling. 2nd place remains a possibility but it is unlikely. I'm sure Ipswich will play not to lose on Tuesday. At this stage of the season that won't be difficult, and that will be that.

However the play offs are very different, Saints will be favourites and that's when the squad will show it's strength. Fans will need to be right on it again.

Remember it took hundreds of millions of pounds worth of talent, to beat Saints yesterday. The other play off contenders will all be looking to avoid us.

[bpsaint]

Think that weeks rest after the Preston game will be massive for the squad. A rested side and Downes back will be an advantage for us IMO.

[Miltonaggro]

56 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

A pay off not a big pay off.

Tonda's contract won't be that valuable.

and that’s the rub!

[saintant]

Automatic is looking like a very long shot. Our focus needs to be on making sure we take that 4th spot ahead of Boro. They face a tough test in their final game against Wrexham - might be a draw with Wrexham trying to hold off Derby for 6th. If that is the case we'll need 4 points from Ipswich at home then Preston away so it's going to be tight.

[Lord Duckhunter]

On 19/04/2026 at 17:54, Matthew Le God said:

So a draw wasn't as good as a Middlesbrough win

Fucking good job they didn’t win, wasn’t it? 

[Football Special]

3 hours ago, saintant said:

Automatic is looking like a very long shot. Our focus needs to be on making sure we take that 4th spot ahead of Boro. They face a tough test in their final game against Wrexham - might be a draw with Wrexham trying to hold off Derby for 6th. If that is the case we'll need 4 points from Ipswich at home then Preston away so it's going to be tight.

Wrexham defeat at Coventry today, so they really need a win vs Middlesbrough next Saturday,  may help us in quest for 4th