Our Rivals Thread

[Din]

Watford have to play Boro, Derby and Forest in their next 4 games, Boro have to play Watford and Wolves in their next 4 games, Derby have to play Watford and Brentford in their next 4 games, and Bournemouth have to play Ipswich away in their next 4. Whereas 3 of the 4 teams we have to play are in the bottom half, and the other game is at home against Sheffield Wednesday, who are in the top half by 1 point.

If we don't get complacent, we will do this. Big 'if' though. 

 

[It's Character Forming]

Very true

But it means 4 games against teams like Huddersfield who will be happy with a point and come to defend ( hone or away). Patience will be essential and we'll need Wes's creativity.

It's all about who can hold their nerve into the home straight.

 

[Yellow Fever]

I think that the Easter week-end games will have a big impact. We need a strong performance in a tricky tie at Brighton and then hopefully all 3 points against Wednesday at home. Watford play Derby away and Boro at home, while Boro play Wigan at home before that. Something has to give in the Watford-Boro and Derby-Watford games at least. Ipswich could do us another favour at home to Bournemouth, but the Cherries should win at home against Brum. Derby have Watford at home and Wigan away.

I suspect that we need to be at least level on points with Watford and Boro after those two matches to have a real chance of an auto place. Other than our match at home to Boro, there are no 6 pointer head to head matches after that for the top 6 teams, so gaining points is going to be much more difficult.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Cutting and pasting from my earlier post - here's whats coming up tomorrow

Friday 3rd April:

Brighton v Norwich

Fulham v Brentford

Middlesbrough v Wigan

Ipswich v Bournemouth

Derby v Watford

Have a sinking feeling Hughton will get the last laugh in this game. Think we have to hope for wins for Ipswich and Derby in those games really to give us the chance to go second level with Bournemouth on points

 

[dj161]

Some big games in there, could do with Ipswich and Derby picking up wins, but I'd take draws from both of those games to be honest, boro vs wigan could be interesting, Boro are good at home but wigan have won their last 4 on the road, so an upset in that one isnt out of the question at all

 

[dj161]

so far we have wins for ourselves, Boro, Brentford, and Wolves, Ipswich held Bournemouth for a draw which is a good result for us, Watford have also just gone ahead at Derby, could do with Derby getting something from that, but with Bournemouth dropping points its still 2 points made up on them so far this weekend

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

1-1 now. That'll do I suppose as keeps us ahead of Watford. Watford down to 10 men though, wouldnt be the worst thing in the world if Derby won

 

[eatonparkboy]

If Derby now go on to win and they should do at 2-1 against ten men, then Norwich have their destiny in their own hands. No-one need ask for anything more.

 

[dj161]

my main worry about Derby winning this game is that they'd only be 3 points behind us with a very nice looking run in, with only Brentford likely to cause them any problems

they have

Wigan (A)

Brentford (H)

Blackpool (H)

Huddersfield (A)

Millwall (A)

Reading (H)

so like I said a pretty nice looking run in for them, but as mentioned by EPB above, it would be in our hands so we shouldn't be worrying about them too much, but I still think I'd prefer they Derby game tonight to finish as a draw

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

If Derby now go on to win and they should do at 2-1 against ten men, then Norwich have their destiny in their own hands. No-one need ask for anything more.

Yes - win our last 6 games and we cant be caught (only Bournemouth could beat us to the title, but we cant be prevented from going up)

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Bugger - as I type this Watford equalize!

 

[dj161]

Derby 2-2 Watford , just over ten minutes to go now

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Watford and Middlesbrough's next game:

Monday 6th April:

Watford v Middlesbrough (early kick-off)

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

my main worry about Derby winning this game is that they'd only be 3 points behind us with a very nice looking run in, with only Brentford likely to cause them any problems

they have

Wigan (A)

Brentford (H)

Blackpool (H)

Huddersfield (A)

Millwall (A)

Reading (H)

so like I said a pretty nice looking run in for them, but as mentioned by EPB above, it would be in our hands so we shouldn't be worrying about them too much, but I still think I'd prefer they Derby game tonight to finish as a draw

You've not read my Wigan/Millwall post have you?  

 

[dj161]

I have, but I'm just a pessimist at heart, as much as I'd love to see us win all of our remaining games you have to know there's bound to be a slip up in there somewhere, Leeds and Bolton away both look pretty tough to me, the only blessing in those games is that both teams have relatively nothing to play for other than pride

 

[mustard gas]

To counter that worry dj, our away form is better than our home form. I cannot see us getting beaten again this season as things stand. Win against Middlesborough and we are almost there.

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

Coming up:

Monday 6th April:

Watford v Middlesbrough (early kick-off)

Bournemouth v Birmingham

Brentford v Forest

Huddersfield v Ipswich

Norwich v Sheff Wed

Wigan v Derby

Probably want a draw between Watford and Boro?

Ipswich have permission to start losing again

 

[Din]

Can see Wigan picking something up against Derby, and as you say a draw between Watford and Boro would be very nice indeed. It wouldn't surprise me either if both Ipswich and Brentford didn't win their games. I'd be amazed though if Bournemouth dropped points though.

 

[morty]

Can see Wigan picking something up against Derby, and as you say a draw between Watford and Boro would be very nice indeed. It wouldn't surprise me either if both Ipswich and Brentford didn't win their games. I'd be amazed though if Bournemouth dropped points though.

That would be a dream come true if Birmingham could hold Bournmouth to a draw.

 

[Boyerboy]

I would be content with a Middlesborough win today.  If we match Middlesborough and beat them a week Friday then we finish above them.  Watford are outside our control and a defeat for them gives us space.

Fact is that if we win all our games then we are promoted unless Watford win all theirs and score more goals so a Watford defeat today changes that scenario.