superniko

I’ve attached the league table for the past 6 seasons at the 33 game point. This year is the lowest points total for 3rd, 4th, 5th AND 6th at this point! The last time 6th had only 53 points at this stage it took just 73 points for 5th and 72 points for 6th (we finished 8th with 70 points) This is our best chance yet, I think something as low as 70 points could do it when you consider how many teams have to play each other and the lower than usual total so far. The Stoke and Swansea games are massive!

A decent article on it here: https://talksport.com/football/fa-cup/659667/brentford-data-revolution-england-smartest-club-championship-leicester-fa-cup/ They're owned by Matthew Benham, professional gambler, and clearly one of the smartest in the game. Very well run club, who go about everything the right way.

I think we’ll have a clear picture after the Swansea game. PNE have to play WBA and Fulham Cardiff have Forest and Brentford Bristol C have WBA and Millwall. Basically everyone is playing everyone around them so points will be dropped. If we can come out with 6+ points I’d be delighted. Expecting 4 though. Anything on Saturday for me is a bonus.

Nothing fun about taking even money on a 5/1 shot. Nice try having his pants down though.

5/1 with the bookmakers so hope you offer the same to Chaddy.

Leeds have an easy run in, expect the top 2 to remain the same as now. Fulham have a horrible run, with Parker as manager I can easily see them slip out of the top 6 which would be a disaster with a squad and budget like they have. Rovers beat Brentford and they're in the top 6 (albeit for maybe 2 hours!)

If everything stays the same then a win away at Brentford at midday next weekend takes us into the Playoffs

Only 3 teams have scored more goals than us this season (West Brom, Brentford and QPR). Surprised me!

Great save from Walton. Lets get into half time with a clean sheet.

This is a brilliant half! Tosin!!

Thoroughly deserved, we've bossed it from about 5 mins in. Charlton are sitting so deep and not pressing much. Allowing Buckley, Travis and Johnson plenty of time on the ball. Nyambe having a stormer so far too.

We're playing well so far, keeping the ball. Though Charlton are sitting deep and letting us pass it around.

Blatant penalty not given

Hull were shocking. We’ve got it bad, but their fans must be depressed, flogging their best 2 players in January. Probably the worst team to come to Ewood this season. Replaced with Maddison who looked like he could barely move at the end. Would have liked to see Buckley earlier, and Davenport / Chapman at some point given what we were up against, they’d have a chance to get their foot on the ball a bit (how often do we have 70% possession?) Bennett shouldn’t be starting, and Johnson didn’t look up to much. Would like to see a change here ahead of Charlton. Armstrong keeps scoring screamers! We can be frustrating at times, but with our injury pile, a 3-0 win keeping us in touch is nice to see

And just like that it is 3!

Bleak 2nd half but we are rightly leading now. Should be 3 really if we could finish / had any sort of quality. masking over the cracks though I fear when Tony is bringing Samuel on as the sub to change the game.

Think that’s a bit unfair. Armstrong missed 2 absolute sitters and Johnson (I think) had the header from 5 yards straight at him.

Finally a change.... Brererton and Samuel...wait, what? Tony playing football manager, chuck a load of strikers on

Would like to see Bennett and Johnson replaced. With any 2 of Buckley, Chapman and Davenport. Hull aren’t interested. We’re controlling the game and it’ll be a good opportunity for them all, who can all offer more. I actually think we’ve looked okay, and considering the odd negative post about Graham, I think he’s been significantly better than any Gallagher performance all season....albeit Hull look terrible and have a a reserve team out.

Big game for us after two disappointing draws. Our rivals for the top 6 are playing 21st, 22nd, 23rd and 24th in the league all at home! so a defeat is likely to leave us 6 points + GD off the playoffs! All teams from 4th to 10th are at home except ourselves. Bristol City: Luton (H) - 22nd Swansea: Barnsley (H) - 23rd Forest: Wigan (H) - 24th Preston: Reading (H) - 15th Fulham: Stoke (H) - 21st Sheff Wed: Cardiff (H) - 11th I'm going and looking forward to a sell out. Will head to Magic Rock brewery for a few beforehand, nice place if you've not been before.

This is dour. What’s the new style of football we’re supposedly playing these days?

- - - - - - - - - - Walton - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Tosin - Lenihan - Williams - - - - - Bennett - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cunningham - - - - Holtby - - Travis - - Downing - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Dack - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Graham - - - - - - - - - - - Can’t see Armstrong getting dropped, but I’d go with above. I think Holtby edges it over Rothwell and would like to see how he performs from the start.

Of course it was a winnable game. They were completely bang average. Every game at home in the Championship is winnable. I’d expect 3 points against all bar Leeds, Fulham and West Brom to be honest.

That was a frustrating 90 minutes. The 3 points were there for the taking. We just do not have enough quality in the team to mount any kind of challenge to the top 6. I’m a supporter of Tony, but my patience is running thin. He has his favourites and he can’t see past them. I’m starting to think he’s holding us back from any progression. Holtby looked good when he came on. Samuel couldn’t even start for me in L1, why the hell is he getting game time when we’re meant to be challenging in the Championship? Finally, little gripe but Walton looked like he was settling for 1-1 the time he took on some goal kicks at the end.

We CANNOT cross a football