Play Off Chase

[HKsaint]

On 12/04/2026 at 05:48, SuperSAINT said:

Ipswich not being in it would help.

Let’s try not to win the game against Ipswich to keep them second. 

[Dark Munster]

1 hour ago, HKsaint said:

Let’s try not to win the game against Ipswich to keep them second. 

Assuming as expected 2nd will be completely out of reach by then, and if we have a top 4 place locked up, it would be tempting. Certainly rest a lot of key players. But if top 4 isn't assured, it would be an interesting dilemma.

[Willo of Whiteley]

We’ll have more of an answer by 22:00 on Tuesday, if we win and Ipswich don’t there is three points separating us with four games left.

Never wrote it off until it looks more than unlikely.

Momentum is with us, the other play off/auto teams have found the perfect time to shit the bed this season.

We’re all but in the play offs now. Wrexham and Derby are the only challengers for the play off run in, and no way are they both winning their remaining four games.

[Brussels Saint]

Would like to avoid Millwall in any playoff Semi-Final. The Den away would potentially be a very hard place to go. Much prefer either Boro or Hull assuming Ipswich get 2nd. 

Confident of doing Millwall or any of them in a Wembley playoff final.

[Oisin]

4 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

We’ll have more of an answer by 22:00 on Tuesday, if we win and Ipswich don’t there is three points separating us with four games left.

Never wrote it off until it looks more than unlikely.

Momentum is with us, the other play off/auto teams have found the perfect time to shit the bed this season.

We’re all but in the play offs now. Wrexham and Derby are the only challengers for the play off run in, and no way are they both winning their remaining four games.

Even if Ipswich win … their next game is Boro. Mentally we have to believe we’ll beat Ipswich at home which means the gap to overhaul is 3. They need to drop points in 2-3 games. It’s unlikely but we’re not requiring a total collapse, just a wobble.

I have to say if it was going to happen I’d have expected it to start at Norwich; if they beat Pompey and Boro it becomes highly improbable but I won’t start writing it off just yet.

On the other hand, we’re not nailed on for playoffs yet - win tomorrow and I think it’s done but not until then. Big game. 

Loving the end of this season - excitement, quality football, goals and points galore. And a team and management that seems connected with the fans. It’s better than 2 years ago, most fun I’ve had in years.

[bender]

9 hours ago, Dark Munster said:

Assuming as expected 2nd will be completely out of reach by then, and if we have a top 4 place locked up, it would be tempting. Certainly rest a lot of key players. But if top 4 isn't assured, it would be an interesting dilemma.

If any team is going to catch them, it will be us.  We should leapfrog Boro tomorrow tomorrow night and Millwall will be only 1 point away, both of which we have a superior GD and neither of those teams are playing as well as us.

If we beat Blackburn and Ipswich beat the skates tomorrow night, we will have a play off place for certain imo but I also think Ipswich would be uncatchable.  There's not enough games to go and we need to be within 3 points of them on the penultimate match v Ipswich.

My slight worry is the team will relax a bit knowing PO place is safe but we can't get second, which will spoil our momentum.

[goodymatt]

1 hour ago, bender said:

If any team is going to catch them, it will be us.  We should leapfrog Boro tomorrow tomorrow night and Millwall will be only 1 point away, both of which we have a superior GD and neither of those teams are playing as well as us.

If we beat Blackburn and Ipswich beat the skates tomorrow night, we will have a play off place for certain imo but I also think Ipswich would be uncatchable.  There's not enough games to go and we need to be within 3 points of them on the penultimate match v Ipswich.

My slight worry is the team will relax a bit knowing PO place is safe but we can't get second, which will spoil our momentum.

You’d like to think the opportunity to finish 3rd/4th will remain a motivator to give us an advantage in the playoffs. This is the best we can hope for now and that could go to the final day.

[RedArmy]

1 hour ago, bender said:

 

My slight worry is the team will relax a bit knowing PO place is safe but we can't get second, which will spoil our momentum.

Didn’t really seem to affect us come the playoffs 2 years ago. 
 

We lost 3 of our last 4 games once the top 2 seemed out of reach. 
 

Sunderland lost their last 5 games of the season last year and won the playoffs. 
 

 

[Willo of Whiteley]

Ipswich aren’t that good, they haven’t been that good all season, it says a lot about the quality of the league.

[Willo of Whiteley]

SECOND IS ON

Absolutely called this weeks ago 😉

Edited 3 hours ago by Willo of Whiteley

[Hoggins]

Millwall have an easy run in unfortunately

[trousers]

Just now, Hoggins said:

Millwall have an easy run in unfortunately

Complacency could be their enemy in that case...

[Dr Who?]

We really could do this, but can only think of the last time we were in this situation and we played them… was bad home and especially away! 

[Dr Who?]

Shoot, I forgot about Millwall! 

[trousers]

Game on!!

[Suhari]

Surely we can't get second? Surely.

Maybe Ipswich are starting to choke? Maybe we can....

[Sheaf Saint]

Just over a week ago we were a point outside the playoffs.

As of now we now have an 8 point cushion to seventh.

Mental.

[Osvaldorama]

Did not think we had a chance in hell even a few weeks ago. 
 

But it’s properly on now 

[Sheaf Saint]

Just now, Suhari said:

Surely we can't get second? Surely.

Maybe Ipswich are starting to choke? Maybe we can....

Looks like Pompey thoroughly deserved their win against them tonight. 

The pressure is on them now.

[Baird of the land]

1 hour ago, Hoggins said:

Millwall have an easy run in unfortunately

Is that like pompey was a supposedly easy game for ipswich

[benjii]

If we win every league matche before then, we take it to the last day of the season at the very least.... 

Hope Milwall don't Sorry I Ruin the Party.

[RedArmy]

Nobody wants to stake a claim on that 2nd spot do they? 
 

I guess we’ll have to do it ourselves. 

[sfc4prem]

Surely the embarrassment of losing to that tinpot outfit in that fucking shack of a stadium is enough to induce a malaise so severe that they'll dock themselves 10 points?

[woodsaint1]

Things are just too good at the moment that it doesnt feel real. The pessimist in me cant help but think that we'll throw in a bad performance at the worst possible time - like the playoff final 

[trousers]

We must remember to thank Pompey at the end of the season if their win tonight proves to be pivotal to us getting promoted 👍🏻

[Matthew Le God]

This thread needs a name change!

Automatic promotion chase

[CB Fry]

I think we still need to win all four games to finish second (84 points, Ipswich can lose two more and still get that).

Despite this amazing run I still don't think we are going to do it.

[sfc4prem]

Just now, CB Fry said:

I think we still need to win all four games to finish second (84 points, Ipswich can lose two more and still get that).

Despite this amazing run I still don't think we are going to do it.

We'd have to beat Ipswich as part of those two Ipswich losses, right?

[RedArmy]

1 minute ago, sfc4prem said:

We'd have to beat Ipswich as part of those two Ipswich losses, right?

Unless you know of another way we can win 4 games without winning 4 games? 

[sfc4prem]

Just now, RedArmy said:

Unless you know of another way we can win 4 games without winning 4 games? 

🫠

[Matthew Le God]

4 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

I think we still need to win all four games to finish second (84 points, Ipswich can lose two more and still get that).

Despite this amazing run I still don't think we are going to do it.

We can be one of those two, so only need one other team to beat them. Plus in our 6 pointer match vs Ipswich, any goals we win by have double impact on goal difference between us and them.

Edited 2 hours ago by Matthew Le God

[trousers]

One thing's for sure, if we were currently in Ipswich's or Millwall's position, many of us would be convinced that the form team coming up on the rails will catch us...

[StrangelyBrown]

On 08/04/2026 at 11:28, StrangelyBrown said:

With 6 to go; 8 wins from the previous 10 and the other 2 results were draws. How wrong could I have been? 

Somehow I think we'll need more than 2 more wins from the last 6 though...

2 more wins under our belt and 4 games to go. Dare I say it - the playoffs look nailed on? What about 2nd....

[egg]

5 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

I think we still need to win all four games to finish second (84 points, Ipswich can lose two more and still get that).

Despite this amazing run I still don't think we are going to do it.

I fear that's correct, but, it's staggering that we've all but cemented a play off spot, and that there's a credible discussion about an automatic place. 

Tonda has worked miracles, and credit to him whatever happens. 

[sfc4prem]

Form guide, last 6 games...

Games played | GD | Points

 

1 Southampton 6 +12 18

2 Queens Park Rangers 6 +7 11

3 Coventry City 6 +6 11

4 Ipswich Town 6 +3 11

5 West Bromwich Albion 6 +4 10

6 Norwich City 6 +1 10

7 Derby County 6 +1 9

8 Oxford United 6 +1 9

9 Blackburn Rovers 6 -1 9

10 Stoke City 6 0 8

11 Millwall 6 0 8

12 Hull City 6 -1 8

[CB Fry]

Yes I am aware we play Ipswich. I just don't think we will go into that game on 8 wins in a row, and finish the season 10 wins in a row.

If we do it tear down Ted Bates and stick Tonda up there.

[trousers]

3 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

Form guide, last 6 games...

Games played | GD | Points

 

1 Southampton 6 +12 18

2 Queens Park Rangers 6 +7 11

3 Coventry City 6 +6 11

4 Ipswich Town 6 +3 11

5 West Bromwich Albion 6 +4 10

6 Norwich City 6 +1 10

7 Derby County 6 +1 9

8 Oxford United 6 +1 9

9 Blackburn Rovers 6 -1 9

10 Stoke City 6 0 8

11 Millwall 6 0 8

12 Hull City 6 -1 8

Millwall playing the team in second place in the form table next then... Interesting....

[RedArmy]

5 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

Form guide, last 6 games...

Games played | GD | Points

 

1 Southampton 6 +12 18

2 Queens Park Rangers 6 +7 11

3 Coventry City 6 +6 11

4 Ipswich Town 6 +3 11

5 West Bromwich Albion 6 +4 10

6 Norwich City 6 +1 10

7 Derby County 6 +1 9

8 Oxford United 6 +1 9

9 Blackburn Rovers 6 -1 9

10 Stoke City 6 0 8

11 Millwall 6 0 8

12 Hull City 6 -1 8

QPR play Millwall this weekend and Ipswich still have to go to West Brom 👀

[RedWillie]

15 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

I think we still need to win all four games to finish second (84 points, Ipswich can lose two more and still get that).

Despite this amazing run I still don't think we are going to do it.

Ipswich have 3 away games in a row after Sunday

[Baird of the land]

17 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

I think we still need to win all four games to finish second (84 points, Ipswich can lose two more and still get that).

Despite this amazing run I still don't think we are going to do it.

Probably not but this is an incredibly fun run, and free of much stress because it seems so inconceivable.

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Hoggins said:

Millwall have an easy run in unfortunately

Nothing is easy in this pressure cooker situation. We have built up incredible momentum which will help us because we are now supremely confident every time we step on the pitch. Our rivals will be feeling it right now. 

[BallBoy]

I am as excited as anyone about our prospects of 2nd but it's not just Ipswich we need to worry about. Millwall have the easiest looking run in and are a point ahead of us. They are in a good position but we are the form side. 

[CanadaSaint]

We have a “tail wind” that I don’t think Ipswich or Millwall can match - our ability to both rotate our starting lineup and freshen things up with substitutions. That’s huge at this end of a long season.

[Willo of Whiteley]

Millwall v QPR
Swansea v Southampton
Ipswich v Middlesbrough

Southampton v Bristol City
Stoke v Millwall
Charlton v Ipswich
Middlesbrough v Sheffield United

Leicester v Millwall
Middlesbrough v Watford
West Brom v Ipswich

Southampton v Ipswich

Ipswich v QPR
Millwall v Oxford
Preston v Southampton
Wrexham v Middlesbrough

Absolute free-for-all, but I don’t see us dropping the most points out of the four teams in this run in.

[saintant]

43 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

This thread needs a name change!

Automatic promotion chase

Welcome back.

[Ex Lion Tamer]

52 minutes ago, woodsaint1 said:

Things are just too good at the moment that it doesnt feel real. The pessimist in me cant help but think that we'll throw in a bad performance at the worst possible time - like the playoff final 

We must pray that Larin and Peretz stay fit

[trousers]

16 minutes ago, saintant said:

Nothing is easy in this pressure cooker situation. We have built up incredible momentum which will help us because we are now supremely confident every time we step on the pitch. Our rivals will be feeling it right now. 

Yep... There's no real pressure, as such, on us to finish any higher, because we've already over achieved based on the situation Eckert inherited. The pressure is all on Ipswich and Millwall to maintain their positions... As I say, many of us would be cacking ourselves right now if the roles were reversed...

Edited 1 hour ago by trousers

[saintant]

43 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

I think we still need to win all four games to finish second (84 points, Ipswich can lose two more and still get that).

Despite this amazing run I still don't think we are going to do it.

Well if we beat them in your scenario that we win all four games it means they can only lose one more game. There is a lot of pressure on them and they're not playing that well as proved tonight.

[Oisin]

Like everyone I keep mulling over the scenarios and I can make a case for any outcome - which in itself proves how far we’ve come. To be in with a shout from where we were is utterly remarkable.

As it is I think Ipswich will falter. Whether we’re the ultimate beneficiaries or it’s Millwall or Boro remains to be seen. 
What is clear is that we have the form, the confidence, the options on the bench and players with an X factor. I like our chances but won’t lie and claim I’m confident we’ll do it.

But imagine if we did … oh my word!

[CB Fry]

17 minutes ago, saintant said:

Well if we beat them in your scenario that we win all four games it means they can only lose one more game. There is a lot of pressure on them and they're not playing that well as proved tonight.

Well, still no. We can beat them. They can lose another game. And they can still get to 84 points.

We can only get to 84 by winning all 4 including beating Ipswich. We could do that and still finish third behind Ipswich on goal difference. 

I hope we can win 10 games in a row but I don't see it. The pressure changes as chaser gets closer to the prize.

Edited 1 hour ago by CB Fry