Good week-end, but we still need a win at Sunderland

[RubiconCSL]

That's my humble opinion, regardless of Sunderland only drawing. Barnsley's last two are very likely to bring them 6pts (Blackpool home and Wovers away, neither of whom have anything to play for). That puts them on 94. So a draw may well keep us above Sunderland, but we still need all 9pts to get past Barnsley I think.

Have we ever won 10 on the bounce?

[Pompski!]

Hmmmm.... Might wait for one more win before cashing out.
Or more likely Luton losing tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

[The Cincinnati Kid]

Well we do have the brilliant winning history of NE football on our side.

[Pompey Penguin]

Remember the last time we needed to get something at Sunderland to win promotion? Lost 1-4, two players sent off, two penalties against and a very home-biased referee. Not a good precedent, and that was against a rubbish Sunderland team that finished fourth from bottom. We missed promotion to the PL on GD, and then blew the play-offs with Walsh suspended and more dodgy refereeing.

http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Match.aspx? ... S&LUID=114

[RubiconCSL]

However, maybe the dodgy referees monkey is off our backs? I read before the Coventry match, that the ref's son (Declan) plays for Coventry (U23 I think) and that Coventry had never lost a game he'd refereed before. Okay, he did his best with 6 mins extra time, but we still won

I really don't fancy Sunderland or even more so Charlton in the play offs. So we need to get it done with automatic promotion. I know play-offs mean another day at Wembley, but my nerves can't take it!

Remember the last time we needed to get something at Sunderland to win promotion? Lost 1-4, two players sent off, two penalties against and a very home-biased referee. Not a good precedent, and that was against a rubbish Sunderland team that finished fourth from bottom. We missed promotion to the PL on GD, and then blew the play-offs with Walsh suspended and more dodgy refereeing.

http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Match.aspx? ... S&LUID=114

[Thats Rich]

Would be interesting to look at it from Sunderland's point of view.

If Barnsley pick up 6 points as expected then even if the Mackems pick up all 9 then they cannot overtake them. Who would they rather play in the playoffs - Us, Barnsley or Charlton? They have lost to us once and drawn once (90mins). They have taken 4 points off both Barnsley and Charlton this season. It would make sense for them to rest some players against us..... however if Barnsley were to slip up however they would regret this.

They will play their strongest team but if they win or draw and Barnsley get their expected 6 points, they would seriously want to avoid us in the playoffs.

[New Forester]

Luton should win tonight. Then they are away to Burton and home to Oxford. A loss and a draw would see us home as champions if we win three more. Fun, isn’t it.

[New Forester]

Well would you believe it? Wimbledon equalise in the 93rd minute. You just never know.

[Pompey Penguin]

Well would you believe it? Wimbledon equalise in the 93rd minute. You just never know.

A win at home to Oxford on the final day will still be enough for Luton to be promoted given their superior goal difference. However, they might now need something from Burton (A) if only to calm the jitters and guarantee the championship.

[Weybridge]

Odd night last night. Luton draw, Doncaster lose. And our neighbours score the fastest ever Premier League goal, just 7.69 seconds.

[Pompey Penguin]

A draw at Sunderland would not be the worst result in the world. It would probably hand Barnsley the second promotion spot, but would leave us in pole position for third place and close enough if Barnsley did drop points. It would also suggest Pompey to play Doncaster or Peterborough in the play-offs if it came to that, with Sunderland and Charlton left to battle it out. I would (almost) take that.

[Weybridge]

A draw at Sunderland would not be the worst result in the world. It would probably hand Barnsley the second promotion spot, but would leave us in pole position for third place and close enough if Barnsley did drop points. It would also suggest Pompey to play Doncaster or Peterborough in the play-offs if it came to that, with Sunderland and Charlton left to battle it out. I would (almost) take that.

Certainly a half-decent scenario. I can see Jackett playing Vaughan on Saturday. Their weak(ish) link does seem to be the centre-half pairing and Vaughan likes to put himself about. Obviously Hawkins did well at Wembley, but they are going to be desperate for the win so piling on a bit of pressure could be useful. Plus I imagine Vaughan will relish putting one past them after his barren season there.

[rumourmonger]

However, maybe the dodgy referees monkey is off our backs? I read before the Coventry match, that the ref's son (Declan) plays for Coventry (U23 I think) and that Coventry had never lost a game he'd refereed before. Okay, he did his best with 6 mins extra time, but we still won

I really don't fancy Sunderland or even more so Charlton in the play offs. So we need to get it done with automatic promotion. I know play-offs mean another day at Wembley, but my nerves can't take it!

Remember the last time we needed to get something at Sunderland to win promotion? Lost 1-4, two players sent off, two penalties against and a very home-biased referee. Not a good precedent, and that was against a rubbish Sunderland team that finished fourth from bottom. We missed promotion to the PL on GD, and then blew the play-offs with Walsh suspended and more dodgy refereeing.

http://www.thestatcat.co.uk/Match.aspx? ... S&LUID=114

I see we have premier League official Craig Pawson for Saturday's game and then our Checkatrade Final referee Dean Whitestone for the Peterborough game on Tuesday.

[Locky_McLockface]

However, maybe the dodgy referees monkey is off our backs? I read before the Coventry match, that the ref's son (Declan) plays for Coventry (U23 I think) and that Coventry had never lost a game he'd refereed before. Okay, he did his best with 6 mins extra time, but we still won

That was later admitted to be complete skcollob

[Milton End]

Just a brief message to wish a safe and successful journey to all those travelling up to the game at Sunderland.

I will be in Glasgow, but hopefully able to hear the radio commentary. PUP