[Archived] RELEGATION RUNNERS & RIDERS

[blueboy3333]

Wigan: R'ham(h) Barnsley (h) Brighton (a) Cardiff (h) Reading (a) Leeds (h)           34 points (-17 GD)   

Rovers: Barnsley (h) Forest (a) Bristol City (h) Wolves (a) Villa (h) Brentford (a)      40pts (-14)

Bristol C: Wolves (h) QPR (h) Rovers (a) Barnsley (h) Brighton (a) B'ham (h)          41pts (-10)

N Forest: H'field (h) Rovers (h) Cardiff (a) Reading (h) QPR (a) Ipswich (h)              42pts (-12)

Burton: N'castle(a) Villa(h) Ipswich(h) B'ham(a) Leeds(h) Barnsley(a)  Reading(h)   44pts (-13)

B'ham: Derby (h) R'ham (a) Burton (h) Villa (a) H'field (h) Bristol City (a)                   46pts (-18)

 

                   

[chaddyrovers]

Birmingham Bristol City game is crucial. Last day of the season

[Oldgregg86]

After Burton's fixtures we have the hardest set of fixtures which doesn't bode well

[RevidgeBlue]

2 hours ago, blueboy3333 said:

Wigan: R'ham(h) Barnsley (h) Brighton (a) Cardiff (h) Reading (a) Leeds (h)           34 points (-17 GD)   

Rovers: Barnsley (h) Forest (a) Bristol City (h) Wolves (a) Villa (h) Brentford (a)      40pts (-14)

Bristol C: Wolves (h) QPR (h) Rovers (a) Barnsley (h) Brighton (a) B'ham (h)          41pts (-10)

N Forest: H'field (h) Rovers (h) Cardiff (a) Reading (h) QPR (a) Ipswich (h)              42pts (-12)

Burton: N'castle(a) Villa(h) Ipswich(h) B'ham(a) Leeds(h) Barnsley(a)  Reading(h)   44pts (-13)

B'ham: Derby (h) R'ham (a) Burton (h) Villa (a) H'field (h) Bristol City (a)                   46pts (-18)

 

                   

Thanks for that blueboy. Very helpful guide. Looking at that list I can't see Wigan getting more than 39 points.

Our last 3 games now look very tricky. I could quite easily see us and Bristol City finishing on something like 47 points. Hope it doesn't boil down to goal difference, that would be too much to bear.

[AllRoverAsia]

Best to focus on the next game to be played. 

We must beat Barnsley on Saturday and see what the other s-hite teams do. Reset and review.  To look to far ahead with all the permutations possible is inviting mental health issues. 

Feck venkys feckin cults. 

[JHRover]

Don't think our fixtures are really that much more difficult than the others. Forest have the benefit of 4 home games from 6. I can't see us catching Birmingham. A 6 point gap with only 6 games remaining is a lot. We would have to win 2+ and hope Birmingham lost all 6.

Our last 2 games have been in theory the 2 most difficult games of the season in terms of the form and position of the teams we've been against and their records on their own grounds. I'm clinging to the positive in that despite losing them both we haven't been hammered and for 75% of those games have looked solid enough without really threatening too much.

Our rivals other than Burton and Wolves who are now safe haven't capitalised on what we expected would be 2 defeats to Brighton and Reading. We're still in the mix and have 6 games now that don't include any of the promotion chasing sides. 

I'm not overly confident because I think there is enormous pressure on our 3 home games as I can't see us winning away. We'll need to win 2 of the 3 at home, starting on Saturday, ideally including Bristol City and avoid defeat at Forest at the least. Villa/Brentford last 2 will be unpredictable anything can happen style games against sides with nothing to play for but who have been on decent runs.

[arbitro]

I am really trying to focus on one game at a time. Every match day will bring surprises both negative and positive for us so looking too far ahead is pointless in my opinion. Injuries, suspensions, referees decisions and luck will also have a bearing on the final table.

The only thing that is certain is that we should all strap ourselves in for a bumpy ride.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

7 hours ago, Oldgregg86 said:

After Burton's fixtures we have the hardest set of fixtures which doesn't bode well

Totally agree,I really dont know where the misplaced confidence that we will beat these sides is coming from.

We are quite simply a bloody awful side full of other clubs loanees and cast offs.

I really fear we lack the nous,guile and craft to get out this horrible mess.

[Mike Graham]

On present form we are the 3rd team to go down along with Wigan and Rotherham.  Goal difference could well be crucial and given the amount of easy goals we concede this is a worry.

As they sayings from Dads Army go this is a case of "don't panic" v "we are doomed captain, doomed".

If I were running a business in such a state I would be looking at extra savings now in those areas where I could get away with it.....the Directors (sic) half time buffet is about to be axed.  No more pork pies nor Millionaires Shortbread for Bob Coar and Co.

[Mattyblue]

That PNE late goal seems to have knocled the stuffing out of everyone- fans included.

We played very well that day and If we can find that level of performance again against opponents that aren't at the level of Brighton and Reading then we have a chance.

However, If the players have given up the ghost then we'll by down by 5pm Easter Monday.

[Claytons Left Boot]

The table never lies and the trapdoor is opening. Wigan will go down and the third place is between us, Bristol City and Nottingham Forest. We have been here or hereabouts for most of the season and it will take a huge effort to change it.

[G Somerset Rover]

I personally can't see us getting a point from the final 3 matches - unless the Brentford players are already on the beach for the final game of the season (but let's face it, that's where ours have been for the majority of the season). I think we need 7 points, absolute minimum, from the next 3 and just have to hope Bristol City don't match it. Can I see us getting 7 from the next 3? Unlikely; head says more like 4.

[K-Hod]

Honestly? I think we'll win our next 3, then lose our final 3 and be relegated on GD.

[AllRoverAsia]

Just now, K-Hod said:

Honestly? I think we'll win our next 3, then lose our final 3 and be relegated on GD.

if relegated by GD its down to SD ..... amongst other things

Edit: just realised GD could also mean the Git Duffy

[rog of the rovers]

Didn't know where to post this, but interesting statistic. Looking for omens or signs

Rovers Midweek Record in 2016/17 - *All Tuesday Night Fixtures now played*

Championship only

P 11 W 2 D 2 L 7 F 13 A 19 Pts 8 GD -6

Wins - Nottingham Forest and Derby at home

Rovers last Midweek Away victory

Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Rovers - 4th March 2015 - Rhodes, Henley

Rovers 2016/17 Season in Navy away strip 

In all competitions

P 11 W 1 D 3 L 7 F 8 A 18 

In Championship

P 9 W 0 D 3 L 6 F 6 A 16 Pts 3 GD -10

Rovers 2016/17 Season in Red away strip

Only worn in Championship

P 8 W 2 D 1 L 4 F 11 A 14 Pts 7 GD -3

Always end on a positive........Rovers v Barnsley at Ewood Park

P 28 W 17 D 5 L 6 F 65 A 33

Last defeat at Ewood against Barnsley - lost 1-2 on 21st August 1999

Rovers won the last two fixtures at Ewood, 2-1 and 5-2.

Oh how we need that winning run to continue this weekend! 

 

[RV Blue]

Looking at the relegation odds now on SkyBet, we are evens, Forest are 5/2, Bristol City are 7/2! I really don't understand that.

[Mark Atkins' Bald Patch]

Strange odds.  I have Bristol City as favourites to go down, which is admittedly influenced by my rose tinted glasses.

A big factor in all of this is the fitness of Mulgrew and Lenihan.  Anyone have any info on the nature of the injuries/length of layoff?

[funny-old-game]

2 hours ago, arbitro said:

I am really trying to focus on one game at a time. Every match day will bring surprises both negative and positive for us so looking too far ahead is pointless in my opinion. Injuries, suspensions, referees decisions and luck will also have a bearing on the final table.

The only thing that is certain is that we should all strap ourselves in for a bumpy ride.

Those pesky refs always have to stick their nose in Tony.

[DE.]

We've been in the relegation places for the vast majority of the season, so of course we'll be favourites to go down along with Wigan. 

[RV Blue]

1 hour ago, DE. said:

We've been in the relegation places for the vast majority of the season, so of course we'll be favourites to go down along with Wigan. 

No one is saying that we shouldn't be... Bristol City at 7/2 is the strange one.

[RevidgeBlue]

Just now, RV Blue said:

No one is saying that we shouldn't be... Bristol City at 7/2 is the strange one.

Whether or not we ought to be marginal favourites, on a value basis, Bristol are worth a punt at those odds.

[philipl]

Been watching the other relegation haunted teams on Youtube and concluded it is us v Bristol City in reality.

Forest seem to have a bit of fight about them and Burton a lot of fight. That said, Burton got off the scale lucky at Huddersfield where the ref failed to give the Terriers a penalty and sent off a player when a Burton player could and should have walked at least as well as if not instead of.

We are rubbish but the Robins at Deepdale could not have complained at a 9-1 scoreline, certainly 7-0 as PNE missed two sitters before they went ahead. Bristol City heads looked like they have completely gone and they are so easy to play behind or through with a bit of pace. Mahoney and Eames have to feature when we play them. 

Forest, Bristol City and Rovers are all deeply dysfunctional clubs so nobody has any off the pitch advantage and probably Bristol City are worse of managerially than we are.

So long as we don't lose the Bristol City game, I would marginally favour our chances of survival over their's. If any other club now gets into 21st/22nd places in the run-in, it is a bonus but I don't see it happening.

 

[philipl]

1 hour ago, RV Blue said:

No one is saying that we shouldn't be... Bristol City at 7/2 is the strange one.

Probably the TV audience which watched them stuff Huddersfield 4-0.

 

[DE.]

Just now, philipl said:

Probably the TV audience which watched them stuff Huddersfield 4-0.

 

Looking at the situation objectively, I think it's fair to say Rovers are heavy favourites to go down. In the relegation zone more or less all season, struggle to win games, concede late and often, best players are injury prone and a manager with little to no support from anybody other than his own staff. It's amazing we've even reached 40 points.

Even on current form, Bristol have picked up 7 out of the last 15 points available. We've picked up 3.

 

[1arC]

The last 2 games have been tough and I think most fans were expecting two losses. To try and keep a positive slant on proceedings, Bristol City being hammered last night will have shot their confidence. If we can match their results over the next two, then it will be a huge game at Ewood against them. Before last night, our goal difference was a whole lot worse, but suddenly even that has closed up. A win against them at Ewood, ,at well see us go above them and if we do, I think we can stay up ...........just.