Sitting Pretty?

Thought I'd have a look at how we were doing after 10 games in relation to our three previous promotion campaigns to the top flight in 1985-86, 1997-98 and 1999-2000.

Year--Pl-------Home-------------/Away---------------GD--Pts---Fin

85-86-10--2-1,2-0,3-1,2-0,2-1/2-2,2-1,1-2,1-3,1-1---+6---20----2nd

97-98-10--3-2,2-1,4-1,1-3/1-2,0-0,1-3,4-0,4-2,3-0---+9---19----4th

99-00-10--3-1,1-0,2-1,4-0,1-0/1-2,2-1,2-2,2-0,2-4---+9---22----1st

07-08-10--1-1,3-2,2-0,2-0,1-1/1-2,1-0,2-2,1-1,2-1---+6---19----?

In 85-86 we trailed in 7 points behind Norwich and only one ahead of Wimbledon in finishing second in what was a relatively low points scoring season for the top clubs.

Interesting that in 97-98 we also had 19 points; we finished fourth that year and qualified through the play-offs. We had also played 6 away and only 4 at home after 10, so might reasonably have expected to be 2 or 3 points better off had we played 5 home and 5 away. Although 4th, we were only 3 points off second and 6 points from Champions Nottingham Forest.

Champions in 99-00, we had reached 22 points after 10 games and finshed four points above 3rd placed Ipswich Town.

Goal difference in all the previous campaigns was similar i.e. +6 to +9 after 10 played, although we have scored and conceded less so far this year.

So what conclusions can we draw? Nothing for sure of course, but I guess we look a couple of points off an automatic promotion place in relation to previous seasons at this stage. It's interesting to note that we have only lost one game in getting our 19 points this year whereas in the other seasons we had lost two or three and yet had similar or better points tallies. If we can extend our unbeaten run and lose less matches we should make up a couple of points before we get to 20 games.