Automatic Promotion Chase

[Sheaf Saint]

1 hour ago, AlexLaw76 said:

it does

Obviously if the tie goes to penalties then I would much prefer that to be at SMS, and statistically the team at home in the second leg has a slight advantage. But on current form I would fancy us to comfortably beat Boro at home and then play out a draw (at least) at theirs, negating the need for ET & pens. 

They couldn't beat us at home earlier in the season when we were shit and they were challenging Coventry for top spot. OK they smashed us at the Riverside in Jan, but we've come and awful long way since then (and we now have a keeper who doesn't concede from scuffed shots that are straight at him).

[Willo of Whiteley]

It’s amazing how downbeat everyone is on this thread now.

Yes it currently is a very long shot.

BUT if we beat Ipswich on Tuesday then the final game of the season suddenly becomes 2nd to 5th - 80 points, 80 points, 79 points, 79 points.

That is incredible going into the final game of the season.

Four teams competing for one spot.

Millwall v Oxford, Ipswich v QPR, play-off chasing Wrexham v Middlesbrough and Preston v Saints.

Stranger things have happened.

Teams drop points every day. It’s game on!

[Lord Duckhunter]

14 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Teams drop points every day.

& Oxford drop more than most….

[sfc4prem]

14 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

if we beat Ipswich on Tuesday then the final game of the season suddenly becomes 2nd to 5th - 80 points, 80 points, 79 points, 79 points.

That is incredible going into the final game of the season.

The lovely thing about it is, if we win against Preston, Millwall, Ipswich or Middlesbrough have to win, a draw won't do.

[Harry_SFC]

I think we'll win both games but it won't be enough. As crap as Ipswich have been lately, I can't see how they don't beat a dreadful QPR team. 

[Tamesaint]

2 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

It’s amazing how downbeat everyone is on this thread now.

Yes it currently is a very long shot.

BUT if we beat Ipswich on Tuesday then the final game of the season suddenly becomes 2nd to 5th - 80 points, 80 points, 79 points, 79 points.

That is incredible going into the final game of the season.

Four teams competing for one spot.

Millwall v Oxford, Ipswich v QPR, play-off chasing Wrexham v Middlesbrough and Preston v Saints.

Stranger things have happened.

Teams drop points every day. It’s game on!

Stranger things tend to happen on the final day of the season when the pressure is on. 

[Willo of Whiteley]

In a weeks time we could be going “how the fuck have we finished second”!

Equally we could be going “I can’t believe we lost our last two games”.

Fine margins.

[saintant]

14 hours ago, sfc4prem said:

The lovely thing about it is, if we win against Preston, Millwall, Ipswich or Middlesbrough have to win, a draw won't do.

Spot on. It's improbable not impossible.

[Mboto Gorge]

39 minutes ago, saintant said:

Spot on. It's improbable not impossible.

This is where I’m at. Would be criminal not to go all out for a win against Ipswich. For starters we don’t want them celebrating promotion on our turf, and also, if we win it means that we beat Preston and the pressure is on them to win their games. We would go to Preston under zero pressure in my opinion as all eyes will be on Millwall and Ipswich with all the expectations on them to win. If they do win, we won’t exactly be gutted as it was expected anyway. Not like we’d have bottled it and be on a downer. All in all it’s no lose situation for us. But let’s at least go all out to take it to that scenario on the final day by doing our utmost to beat Ipswich and stick the pressure bang on them and Millwall on Saturday. 

Edited 11 hours ago by Mboto Gorge

[whelk]

These odds obviously include going up via play-offs but gives you an idea of how Ipswich are massive favourites 

[Ken Tone]

14 hours ago, sfc4prem said:

The lovely thing about it is, if we win against Preston, Millwall, Ipswich or Middlesbrough have to win, a draw won't do.

As long as we beat Ipswich,  we'll be above Middlesbrough on goal difference or goals scored, so it's very slightly better than that. If we then beat Preston,  either Ipswich or Millwall need to win, or 'Boro need not just to win, but to win by by more than we do  ...... I think! 😉 

 

[Whitey Grandad]

7 hours ago, Mboto Gorge said:

This is where I’m at. Would be criminal not to go all out for a win against Ipswich. For starters we don’t want them celebrating promotion on our turf, and also, if we win it means that we beat Preston and the pressure is on them to win their games. We would go to Preston under zero pressure in my opinion as all eyes will be on Millwall and Ipswich with all the expectations on them to win. If they do win, we won’t exactly be gutted as it was expected anyway. Not like we’d have bottled it and be on a downer. All in all it’s no lose situation for us. But let’s at least go all out to take it to that scenario on the final day by doing our utmost to beat Ipswich and stick the pressure bang on them and Millwall on Saturday. 

And don't forget that this is our last home game of the regular season. 

[Football Special]

1 minute ago, Whitey Grandad said:

And don't forget that this is our last home game of the regular season. 

Surely no lap of honour at the end though with the play offs still to come we'll have another home game 

[Badger]

3 hours ago, Football Special said:

Surely no lap of honour at the end though with the play offs still to come we'll have another home game 

Didn’t stop them two years ago. An embarrassing event in a largely empty stadium after a 1-0 defeat to Stoke.