Tuesday's imperious victory at Nottingham Forest has given Charlton fans hope that we will soon pull clear of the relegation scrap and confirmed what many have been saying that we would start to climb the table as more players returned from injury. Saturday's home game against Blackburn Rovers gives the hitherto unlikely prospect of three wins from four and would likely see us distance ourselves from the fight.
With that in mind, there is still some hope that we might finish the season in similar fashion to how we started it and that we could even make the top ten. Some are even speaking about play-offs but I think that's realistically out-of-reach given where we are. So, I have had a look at the next six games for those involved in the fight and we look to have a real chance of moving into mid-table.
The first point is that whilst we now have two home games against Blackburn and lowly Luton, our main rivals all have two away fixtures to come, so we should expect to improve our immediate position. After that, we then face Sheff Wednesday (a) 12th, Huddersfield (a) 20th and then Boro (h) 18th and Hull City (a) 15th. Whilst we are famed for playing better against better sides, you have to think we will pick up relatively more points from these fixtures than we have during our injury-hit slump.
I am writing Barnsley off at this point and believe Luton will soon join them. They are away at Boro on Saturday before coming to the Valley. After that they have awkward home matches against Brentford and Stoke before going to Wigan and then another tough home game against Preston.
Huddersfield's outlook isn't dissimilar to Luton's. Away at Wayne Rooney on Saturday then at Swansea before Bristol City and Charlton at home. If they come out of that with their heads still above water, they then go to Leeds before a very winnable home game against Wigan.
I expect Wigan to fall behind as well in the next month. They have to go to Cardiff, Millwall, West Brom and Huddersfield and only have home games against Reading and Luton.
Boro and QPR probably have too much to get sucked in given the prospects for Luton, Wigan and Huddersfield. Both of them have four home games from six and QPR face Stoke, Derby, Birmingham and Barnsley in theirs. Boro have trickier home games against Leeds and Forest but they also have Luton and Swansea,
So, in summary, I expect us to move into mid-table over the next month and put safe distance between ourselves and the bottom three. Come on you Reds!
With that in mind, there is still some hope that we might finish the season in similar fashion to how we started it and that we could even make the top ten. Some are even speaking about play-offs but I think that's realistically out-of-reach given where we are. So, I have had a look at the next six games for those involved in the fight and we look to have a real chance of moving into mid-table.
The first point is that whilst we now have two home games against Blackburn and lowly Luton, our main rivals all have two away fixtures to come, so we should expect to improve our immediate position. After that, we then face Sheff Wednesday (a) 12th, Huddersfield (a) 20th and then Boro (h) 18th and Hull City (a) 15th. Whilst we are famed for playing better against better sides, you have to think we will pick up relatively more points from these fixtures than we have during our injury-hit slump.
I am writing Barnsley off at this point and believe Luton will soon join them. They are away at Boro on Saturday before coming to the Valley. After that they have awkward home matches against Brentford and Stoke before going to Wigan and then another tough home game against Preston.
Huddersfield's outlook isn't dissimilar to Luton's. Away at Wayne Rooney on Saturday then at Swansea before Bristol City and Charlton at home. If they come out of that with their heads still above water, they then go to Leeds before a very winnable home game against Wigan.
I expect Wigan to fall behind as well in the next month. They have to go to Cardiff, Millwall, West Brom and Huddersfield and only have home games against Reading and Luton.
Boro and QPR probably have too much to get sucked in given the prospects for Luton, Wigan and Huddersfield. Both of them have four home games from six and QPR face Stoke, Derby, Birmingham and Barnsley in theirs. Boro have trickier home games against Leeds and Forest but they also have Luton and Swansea,
So, in summary, I expect us to move into mid-table over the next month and put safe distance between ourselves and the bottom three. Come on you Reds!
Be nice we wait and see and we are talking about CAFC and one never knows what happens
ReplyDeleteBlackburn was always going to be a bridge too far they are the form away side in the EFL
ReplyDeleteIn fact they may well go on to win promotion
Ending Luton mini rivival on Saturday more realistic