While I still remain confident about the Villa, I think the logical stance is that it’s going to be a big ask that we’re going to beat Leeds and Norwich while Albion lose to Derby too.
Which means overtaking the Baggies looks doubtful, although still not impossible.
Derby might well beat Swansea away and Albion at home, which means they can overtake us, if we lose our remaining two games.
Why did I think we were guaranteed 5th place as we stand? So much for that “O” level maths.
For clarity, if you don’t know already, third place plays sixth place and fourth place plays fifth place in the play-offs.
My mind is blown, given the myriad of options, but it looks to me like we face the Albion and Leeds face Derby.
I’d take us to do the Albion over two legs, although it would by no means be easy.
Leeds-Derby is also a tough call, but I’d plump for Leeds, which means we’d face them in the final.
Which all in all makes tomorrow a game that we should try to win.
While losing to them tomorrow wouldn’t be the end of the world, it would give them a psychological edge and we don’t want that.
Beating them on their own turf means we’d have the edge, obviously.
Squad news and it’s looking pretty good for us.
Gianji Alioski, who did well against us in the last meeting, is out for the season with a torn meniscus.
Kemar Roofe, Leeds’ top scorer, is also out with a hip problem.
Tammy and Hause are still out, but we know we have decent back up and Tuanzebe is available.
Dean Smith has hinted that he won’t play a weakened side and I fully expect Grealish and McGinn to start and I don’t see more than the odd change happening.
So while I remain fully confident, unless we’re going to win fifteen games on the trot, the winning streak continues to concern me.
I think I’d prefer us to drop that and instead maintain our unbeaten run.
Where maybe a draw would keep me happy.
Except I see a few goals in an open game, meaning a draw is unlikely.
I’m drawing a deep breath, but I’m going for yet another win.
2-1 to us.
UTV!
It’s all beginning to dawn on me and it’s squeaky bum time.
I really didn’t want to predict this game, but I’ve correctly predicted wins for so long, I daren’t stop, in case I jinx us.
How ironic is that, when most have been too scared to predict for a while?
Boro aren’t out of it yet, either.
My brain hurts 🙂
What will be will be.
Whilst it would be nice to win (or draw) I’m not too worried about this game or whether we face Leeds, Baggies or Derby in the playoffs. If we really harbour ambitions of making it in the premier league then we should not be harbouring concerns over games against any of them!
Very true Hitch.
Sod it, we’ll beat them all 🙂
After the Celtic game today I’m almost beginning to believe it’s down to fate.
They scored just one goal by the number five (McNeill’s number) and in the 67th minute (the year that the Lisbon Lions became the first British club to lift the European Cup).
We’re going to win the play offs and it doesn’t matter who we play or what the permutations are.
We will win. That’s it. Believe.
these are the type of games villa will thrive on, norwich and leeds final games are like warm ups for the playoffs. we shouldnt take them lightly and i doubt smith will. they are important as overly stated already to keep the important momentum ticking over. teams fear us not cause we have grealish, but cause we have momentum and the team are playing as a team.
leeds and norwich both have nothing to play for now but they will want to test themselves against the best and we are that. leeds will throw the kitchen sink against us, to stop the run of defeats and start off a run which they hope will lead them into the playoffs. we have to put down a marker to our potential challengers in the final.
i cant see any other team beating leeds if thats derby or bore. so leeds will most likely be the final, i think its to bold to look past baggies that will be a massive game and one we should focus on first. i will trust smith if he rests the players or his best then i will bow to him and support him cause he knows the whats best long run.
cant wait for leeds game, they are always hard at bellend road. so its a good test to see where we are. norwich were well worth promotion. they will be another massive test. then we start the playoffs which will mean we just had two good games to prepare for them.
fail to prepare …. prepare to fail
3 1 to villa today
I dare not predict to maintain consistency but a win today will equal our clubs best which included cup games I think, unless I misread. Momentum, confidence and players fit and fighting for places will be key going into the playoffs. How Smith juggles all that is new to him so someone like Terry will play a big part. Leeds won at our place with quite a few kids playing if I remember correctly, so a few injuries shouldn’t worry them this time either. However this time we are the form team while they are struggling. If we are up for it then we should have too much for them but it will be tough. COYL!
11 wins in a row in 1897 which consisted of 9 league and 2 cup games. Need 2 more to beat it. 11 wins is the 4th best in English football. So still a lot to play for!
both sides are playing their strongest sides possible, so much for resting playings. might work if we wasnt playing a potential opponents in final playoffs. but like blackburn showed last night their is no easy games in championship to rest players and keep the momentum. off to pub silly ko time. its gonna have to be a lunch in the pub lol and a few more beers to wash it down.
11 wins will equal the championship record set by Fulham when Jean Tigana was their manager. As for predictions, I reckon Derby will knock out Leeds to get revenge for spy gate, and Villa will knock out the baggies to get revenge for the Rodriguez handball, setting up a Lampard – Terry reunion, who will go on to be Chelsea’s new management team!
Cooper already trying to take the legs off Jack. Can’t afford any injuries.
Yes, he’s constantly being tripped.
Bielsa booked lol
I’m pleased the referee is holding is ground. It’s always intimidating at Elland Road but he isn’t getting influenced by it all. Got to say Mings is awesome so far. I’m worried by the way the game is going that one of our players is going to get badly injured. They have already had a go at Grealish.
Bielsa yellow card…Leeds losing their rag a bit
Good entertaining first half.
Pretty fair result up to now.
Fans going barmy at Atwell.
I am sure Don Revie is back on the coaching team…..
An even first half but we’re making chances. Jack getting kicked all over the shop but Mings and Tuanzebe are immense at the back and awesome coming forward!
A bit more cutting edge and we could easily win this.
No love lost in this game . Leeds doing a Revie tactics, taking players out. I’m worried over Mcginn it’s come twice for cards. Jack has to get on with the game and except he’s a target in the game along with Mcginn. Hard game to call.
You can see why opposition fans don’t like Grealish.
As you say Bill, he has to just get on with and stop the arm waving and moaning.
Adomah on for Green. Perfectly balanced game so far.