The Relegation Battle

[AucklandRover]

As we are in the midst of a weather pattern with Noah’s Ark proportions of rain, I am stuck indoors (Auckland has had 7 inches of rain in the last 72 hours). Following up Saxo’s worries on the other thread, I have looked up the fixtures for all the clubs battling relegation. Here they are:

Birmingham (44pts.): Newcastle (H); Ipswich (A); Brighton (A); Derby (H); Rotherham (A); Burton (H); Villa (A); Huddersfield (H); Bristol City (A). [9] [GD -16] {3 v. Top 7}

Burton (41pts.): Brentford (H); Huddersfield (A); Newcastle (A); Villa (H); Ipswich (H); Birmingham (A); Leeds (H); Barnsley (A); Reading (H). [9] [GD -12] {4 v. Top 7}

Forest (40pts.): Derby (H); Preston (A); Wolves (A); Huddersfield (H); Rovers (H); Cardiff (A); Reading (H); QPR (A); Ipswich (H). [9] [GD -11] {2 v. Top 7}

Wolves (39pts.): Brentford (A); Fulham (A); Cardiff (H); Forest (H); Bristol City (A); Brighton (H); Leeds (A); Rovers (H); Huddersfield (H); Derby (A); Preston (H). [11] [GD -5] {4 v. Top 7}

Bristol City (38pts.): Huddersfield (H); Brentford (A); Preston (A); Wolves (H); QPR (H); Rovers (A); Barnsley (H); Brighton (A); Birmingham (H). [9] [GD -7] {2 v. Top 7}

Rovers (38pts.): Fulham (A): Preston (H); Brighton (A); Reading (A); Barnsley (H); Forest (A); Bristol City (H); Wolves (A); Villa (H); Brentford (A). [10] [GD -11] {3 v. Top 7}

Wigan (34pts.): Villa (H); Newcastle (A); Ipswich (A); Rotherham (H); Barnsley (H); Brighton (A); Cardiff (H); Reading (A); Leeds (H). [9] [GD -11] {4 v. Top 7}

Rotherham (17pts.): QPR (A); Fulham (H); Wednesday (H); Wigan (A); Birmingham (H); Reading (A); Ipswich (H); Preston (A); Derby (H). [9] [GD -50] {3 v. Top 7}

I have underlined games involving other teams in the relegation-battle. The key thing is: we have games against three of them (in a row!). They could be absolutely pivotal. Our game in hand of most of the others could also be *****.
To be honest, I’d be delighted with five points from our next four games. Fewer than that, and we are in trouble; more than five would give us every chance. I quite like it that our last two matches will be against mid-table teams with not much to play for.
It would be brilliant to see a 15000 crowd for the PNE game!

[gardsPNE]

I think Wigan and Rotherham are doomed and I have a suspicion that...and I may be wrong here but Forest will join them. They are in a real mess at the moment and not being able to tempt cloughie back may have been more significant than they realised.

[AucklandRover]

I think Wigan and Rotherham are doomed and I have a suspicion that...and I may be wrong here but Forest will join them. They are in a real mess at the moment and not being able to tempt cloughie back may have been more significant than they realised.

Gards - I think Burton have a really tough run-in as well. I'd actually like to see them survive, but it's dog-eat-dog at this stage.
You're right: things look bad for Wigan too.

[robinrover]

Despite the disappointment of the equaliser and Bristol city,Burton and wolves winning it brought Birmingham and forest into the dog fight
yesterday kept us unbeaten under Mowbray and momentum is a powerful tool
go with a strong mentality on Tuesday and who knows anything is a plus being our game in hand.

[robinrover]

Also thinking on our remaining fixtures what sort of points tally do you think we will achieve?
I think 11 is possible from what's left
is that enough?probably not as I think 50 is the magic number but anything is possible with a tight group of teams battling the drop.

[AucklandRover]

Also thinking on our remaining fixtures what sort of points tally do you think we will achieve?
I think 11 is possible from what's left
is that enough?probably not as I think 50 is the magic number but anything is possible with a tight group of teams battling the drop.

Funnily enough, Robin, I was going through the fixtures and doing the same thing. I came up with 13. I wonder if that would be enough.

[gardsPNE]

Gards - I think Burton have a really tough run-in as well. I'd actually like to see them survive, but it's dog-eat-dog at this stage.
You're right: things look bad for Wigan too.

yep its going to be a real rip up and the closest dog fight in years with so many teams now involved. Wolves and Forest in particular should not be there but they are and it shows how bad these clubs are run for these two to be down there.