The Final Countdown

The facts are that Swindon, MK Dons and Preston represent a real threat now and you get the feeling that everything is starting to go against us. Little seems suspect for the rest of the season. Today Bradford had a man sent off after 10 mins and MK Dons looked superb with Deli back. All we need to do is win our three home games and we are there. Come what may we must beat Swindon tomorrow as if we don't Preston could be top next week end.
From our perspective we have started to bottle things lately and I have started to get the collywobbles

 

Time for men to be counted must win game tomorrow, and a game we must not loose on Saturday.

 

To be sure of winning the title

We need to beat Swindon

I just can't see us getting anything at PNE.

And we will need win the remaining 4 games. Away at Bradford (Preston made it look easy so why can't we) and Chesterfield and win both remaining home matches against Coventry and Walsall.

 

'I just can't see us getting anything at PNE'
Nor me, bloody Garner.

'Away at Bradford (Preston made it look easy so why can't we)'
Bradford played with 10 for most of the game.

If we win our home games I'm hoping it will be enough to be Champions.

 

Bradford sounded poor from the reports I heard yesterday despite the sending off, and when did we ever make anything easy ?

All of the impetus is with Preston right now but it could all change again. They don't concede many and we aren't taking our chances.

Meantime we have to start with 3 points tonight. The other 2 remaining home games ought to be formalities but I ask again, when did we ever make anything easy ?

I don't think that we'll win the title if we get no points from any of the 3 away games.

 

This is Bristol City - you know it will all be on the last game!!

 

Bradford played well we needed a third, our keeper was our MOM

 

Here's a scary thought for you, if we return the favour of beating you at your place and MKD win on Saturday they will only be 2 points behind you.
So let's settle for a draw please

 

Current Position:
There are now 5 games to go - ignoring goal difference this is the number of points City need to guarantee certain things (I have put in brackets the team that impacts on that points total):
To be Champions - 11 points (Preston)
To go Up - 6 points (MK Dons)
3rd Place - 4 points (Swindon)
4th Place - 0 point - Objective Achieved
5th Place - 0 point - Objective Achieved
Make the Play-Offs - 0 point - Objective Achieved
Of course this assumes that our opponents will win every game they play (which is impossible given they will play each other).

 

We won't defend as badly as they did last night, saying that you could have had three penalties and Branco should have been sent off after 10 minutes. We will be up for it on Saturday should be a good tension filled afternoon

 

The final score last night could easily have been 5-3 to us. Couple of nailed on penalties against Flint which the clueless officials managed to miss or ignore every time. World class save from FF and they hit the post and bar too.

Swindon are a horrible, cynical, nasty team and I reckon they'll lose in the playoffs too and serve 'em right says I !!.

 

I was very disappointed with the performance of the match officials. A Premier referee and two linesmen,who were either incompetent or deliberately ignored the off the ball thuggery of Swindon.
With a fourth official also conspicuous by his silence, once again Swindon finished a match with a full team instead of having at least two dismissed.
Kasim for two awful fouls but only one yellow.
Branco with a forearm smash on Flint that Big Daddy Crabtree would have been proud of.

Football is a physical game. If it is dumbed down, we might as well pay to see tidfly winks. But deliberate cowardly actions like we witnessed again are not wanted.

Terry Cooper is a legend at BCFC for the part he played in the Club's recovery in 1982.
But his son is no better than a piece of dog turd hiding silently under one's shoe.

So on to the next game when we visit a proper football club with real fans. It will not be a game for the feint hearted but I nexpect it to be played in the right spirit.

 

Did like Aiden Flint reply when asked if he would like to see his former team promoted. Short reply was NO

 

Cidered.

Verbatim.

 

His dad was one of the players I used to like to see with his fair no nonsense approach to the game, alas as has been seen the realization will dawn on his son oneday that he plays into the oppositions hands when his players are more intent on concentrating on how to delude the referee or linesman with an off ball foul than playing for team and helping actually score. they do seem to have the knack of concealed fouling, as opposed to winning............

 

Almost everything about Swindon I disliked last night.....

Aside that is from their number 7 (Gladwin?) who I thought looked a handful and might be a useful addition to our squad when we go up to the Championship and they don't.

 

Current Position:

There are now 4 games to go - ignoring goal difference this is the number of points City need to guarantee certain things (I have put in brackets the team that impacts on that points total):
To be Champions - 8 points (Preston)
To go Up - 3 points (MK Dons/Swindon)
3rd Place - 3 points (MK Dons/Swindon)
4th Place - 0 point - Objective Achieved
5th Place - 0 point - Objective Achieved
Make the Play-Offs - 0 point - Objective Achieved

Of course this assumes that our opponents will win every game they play (which is impossible given they will play each other).

 

That's what I made it, an overdue win at Bradford on Tuesday and we are up regardless

 

The cream on the cake would be of course to be champions, having scored the most goals and conceded the least. At the moment the stats are. I think MK may win the former as they have more games left
FOR AGAINST DIFF
CITY GD 80 36 44
PRESTON GD 69 34 35
SWINDON GD 66 45 21
MK DONS GD 81 40 41
but we could do it

With Preston having 3 out of their last 4 away I think we are there

 

After all the effort, we need, and deserve to be Champions