Next ten to tell

The consensus of the faithful would appear to be that Norwich are our main threat to an automatic promotion place working on the assumption that Leeds like more than capable of hanging on to the Champions spot. They have some excellent current form that matches Leeds' own over the last ten matches, although they remain four points behind us in third. On the basis that I believe we will need a decent points gap to third if we aren't to avoid being overtaken in the last ten games, I have been looking closely at our respective next ten fixtures.

My optimism here was based on the knowledge that our next ten opponents all look like games we could reasonably expect to win - six at home and four away. Having looked at Norwich's next ten, I think you will agree that Canaries fans might share a similar optimism, so any advantage we can gain by the end of January might prove decisive.

-------------Addicks----------Canaries

5/12-----Southend (H)-------Oldham (H)

12/12----Stockport (A)-------Yeovil (A)

19/12----Millwall (H)---------Huddersfield (H)

26/12----Swindon (H)--------Millwall (H)

28/12----Brentford (A)-------Walsall (A)

2/1-------Walsall (A)---------Wycombe (A)

9/1-------Hartlepool (H)-----Exeter (H)

16/1-----Wycombe (A)-------Colchester (A)

23/1-----Leyton Orient (H)--Brentford (H)

30/1-----Tranmere (H)------Hartlepool (H)

I don't think there is much value in giving a verdict on these matches although I think I would choose ours over theirs. Interestingly, the average placing of the teams we face is 14 and 12 for Norwich, so no massive difference and perhaps not as low as you might think looking at the opponents. The four away matches we have, however, are against opposition whose average position is 18th, whilst Norwich's is 12th.

If we look for the four toughest matches on paper, ours appear to be Millwall and Swindon at home and Walsall and Wycombe away. Norwich's, Colchester, Wycombe and Walsall away and Huddersfield at home. I think we might just have the edge, particularly if we can stay ahead of them until New Year.