Three days and counting down to a Millwall derby that has taken on enormous significance and captured the imagination, perhaps even more than the long-awaited home leg at Valley before Christmas. That was the most exciting and nerve-racking match of the season so far and I hope that this one proves just the same because it will mean we will be battling and competing.
If we can avoid defeat, the table should make encouraging reading on Sunday with only ten games left before the very real prospect of the play-offs. We won't give up on catching Leeds, and they have a stiff task at Southampton, but that would mean winning at the New Den and that looks beyond us at the moment and the Lions are in top form to boot.
Brentford v MK Dons
MK Dons picked up a good win in the week over Swindon and might find this a step too far. The Bees have only lost at home twice all season.
Prediction; 2-1
Brighton & Hove Albion v Swindon Town
Swindon are feeling the pressure and could make it a disastrous week by losing their third successive game in eight days. Brighton look like they are shaping up under Gus Poyet and look like securing League One football at Falmer when they move in 2011. My money's on the Seagulls in spite of their dreadful home record.
Prediction; 2-1
Bristol Rovers v Tranmere Rovers
Home banker for me. Bristol return home from the rousing 4-0 defeat of rivals Swindon and should make short work of a Tranmere side who have been poor on their travels all season.
Prediction; 3-0
Carlisle United v Colchester United
Colchester looked lacklustre at home to Brighton on Monday. They won't like this trip and Carlisle will want to avoid a second successive home defeat.
Prediction; 2-1
Huddersfield Town v Norwich City
A cracker in prospect here. Town know that if they can avoid a defeat here they are likely to go the whole season undefeated at home. Norwich are cantering away at the top and have a 9 point cushion over us in third. They could sit back here and rest on their laurels but they can also play relaxed football and that may be enough to earn them a share of the spoils.
Prediction; 2-2
Leyton Orient v Walsall
Mid-table nothingness here and I'll take the Saddlers to take a point to add to their decent away form.
Prediction; 1-1
Millwall v Charlton Athletic
The Lions will start as warm favourites for this one. We will need solid performances across the pitch and from Nicky Bailey in particular. I don't see us getting more than a couple of goal-scoring chances and we will need to make the most of them. My heart tells me we can get a point which would be a moral victory in maintaining the four point gap but my head says they will be too strong and we will crack.
Prediction; 2-0
Oldham Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers
Basement battle here and Oldham can take a huge step to safety by beating their relegation rivals. Wycombe are seven points off 20th and I think they are going down.
Prediction; 2-0
Southampton v Leeds United
Another tasty fixture and a big crowd should be there to see the Saints test themselves against the automatic promotion favourites. Pardew will be looking for a response after their disappointing defeat at Tranmere on Saturday and Leeds will be hoping to build on the back of their win at Tranmere in the week.
Prediction; 2-0
Southend United v Exeter City
Not one for the faint-hearted this; both sides are in the drop zone and are level on 32 points. The draw's no good to either of them and this could be a kicking contest. Southend were given a final, final 35 day reprieve in the courts today and spirits will not be high in south Essex. I'll take Exeter to snatch the points Addicks-style.
Prediction; 1-2
Stockport County v Gillingham
This is it Gills fans. Your best chance of breaking your away duck all season. Simeon Jackson fired two last week as they beat Huddersfield and I think he could do it again here.
Prediction; 0-2
Yeovil v Hartlepool United
Long slog from Hartlepool for this one. I can't see there being more than 200 travelling for this one and it looks a fruitless trip.
Prediction; 2-0
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I was very gloomy after the home game against Brighton and felt that we were a long-shot even for the Play-Offs. However, two unconvincing wins and some helpful results elsewhere later and, like you, I’m feeling much more optimistic. However, I’ve pasted in below a piece written for 4-4-2 by a Swindon fan. This should keep our feet on the ground!! Note, in particular, the comment on Charlton’s game at Swindon. Let’s hope we can show some quality, starting on Saturday, and prove the author wrong. The loss of Jackson is a blow by the way. Would it make sense to use Semedo at left back rather than Solly?
ReplyDelete4-4-2 article starts here
How the League One promotion chase will end
Rochdale fans must be wetting themselves with excitement. They’re currently top of League Two and face the prospect of leaving the division for the first time in 36 years.
In the division above, Norwich City fans are probably more expectant and they’re looking good for the title. For the rest of us battling it out at the top end of the table, though, it’s squeaky bum time.
Until Tuesday night, pacesetters Leeds were without a win in seven. Below them, Charlton had won one game in seven before last weekend. Huddersfield have lost three in a row. Swindon have just lost consecutive league games for the first time this season... seems like the nerves are getting to everybody. And we all play each other in the denouement...
Leeds United
It's a long time since the FA Cup win at Old Trafford. Leeds were without a win in seven until beating Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday night. Jermaine Beckford bagged a brace in the 4-1 win and scored the equaliser during the Whites’ 1-1 draw at home to Brentford on Saturday, but had previously been without a goal in six. They face Southampton, Millwall, Norwich and Swindon in their next four games, and Charlton and Bristol Rovers in the denouement. They have the best away record in the league, with nine wins.
Charlton Athletic
Charlton have won just three in their last eight and have drifted five points adrift of Leeds in second place. However, with Leeds facing all the teams around them in the next four games, Phil Parkinson’s side might fancy catching them.
That said, after a little local kickabout with Millwall this weekend, they face Huddersfield, MK Dons, Colchester and Southampton – and from a Swindon perspective, when they came to the County Ground they looked like one of the worst sides around the top of the division.
Colchester United
Anyone who saw Colchester’s televised win against Southend two weeks ago will know exactly why the Us home form is so good: their pitch resembles a sandpit.
Aidy Boothroyd’s side have the easiest run of games, too, facing five of the lower sides before back-to-back matches against Millwall and Swindon. They’ve lost twice at home all season, to Norwich and Leeds, and this form should be enough to see them over the line and into the play-offs.
Millwall
The league’s form team with six wins in their last eight games. They’ll need to continue that form as they face Charlton and Leeds in the next two matches, although they boast the league’s best record against teams in the top half of the table. Win their next two, or avoid defeat, and Kenny Jackett's men face a genteel stroll towards the end of the season – matches against Stockport, Brentford, Gillingham, Yeovil, Leyton Orient and Tranmere punctuated only by clashes with Colchester, Huddersfield and on the final day of the season, us...
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ReplyDeleteSwindon Town
Three wins in eight isn’t the kind of form you want when entering the most crucial stage of the season. Before this week, opposing sides had been talking us up as outside shots at automatic promotion, but Swindon fans knew the frailties of Danny Wilson’s squad. Back-to-back defeats will now test the Robins’ mettle. We have failed to win a game after going behind, so going ahead is proving crucial. Worse still, Charlie Austin and Billy Paynter – with 31 league goals between them – are without a goal in three. Saints, Leeds and Norwich to come in the next three weeks...
Huddersfield Town
League One’s big spenders are underachieving. Without a win in three, they face Charlton and Norwich in their next three games and could lose sight if those above them win. Both those games are at home, but Lee Clark's side have the worst home record of any of the top eight. They also face a tricky tie at Leyton Orient, who have held Swindon and beaten Leeds in their last two home games.
MK Dons
Four wins in the last eight have seen Paul Ince’s side draw within five points of sixth place, but they face every team in the promotion shake-up between now and the end of the season. That could be a great opportunity, but it doesn't make for the easiest of run-ins.
Bristol Rovers
Rovers will have fewer easier afternoons than the one they enjoyed at our expense last weekend. Tactically they were spot on, hitting us on the break and showing clinical finishing in front of goal. That’s three wins in a row for Paul Trollope’s side, and they don’t face another play-off rival until April 5, when they play MK Dons. Dark horses now they’ve ended their away-day hoodoo...
Southampton
Saints may have left it too late, but neither Swindon nor Leeds – the next two visitors to St Mary’s – will relish travelling to the south coast. Alan Pardew's side put five past Huddersfield and Walsall and have won their last five at home. However, consistency has been their problem, and a disappointing defeat away at Tranmere epitomised their fallibity. With Lee Barnard amongst the goals – he's got six in five games – they’ll be a match for anyone, but I’m hoping their minds will be on Wembley and the JPT final instead…
My top six (in order):
1. Norwich City
2. Leeds United
3. Colchester United
4. Millwall
5. Swindon Town
6. Bristol Rovers