A banana skin if ever I saw one on monday afternoon .
We are now at the stage where one defeat ends your automatic hopes , you could argue a single point at Home Park may not be enough either .
Out of all the automatic promotion campaigns I've witnessed this is by far the most competitive .
Historically it was tight in previous years but at this stage of the season we had a bit more insurance should we be defeated .
I remember the defeat at relegated Blackpool in 81 with only two games to go , we completed the job the following Tuesday at home to Rotherham .
The defeat at Portsmouth in 97 wasn't catastrophic either and we beat Bradford a few days later to clinch our place in the PL .
This season is massively different although it's the same for our two rivals Sunderland and Portsmouth , they can't afford to drop points either .
Someone or both by definition have to drop points next saturday though between those two .
All we can do is take care of our own business , whoever claims the automatic places will deserve it given the competitiveness .
A defeat for Luton this evening and it will get even more interesting .
UP THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE WE GO .