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Another really good performance and another good result - from memory they gave us a few problems at ER but we never gave them a look in tonight and even at 4-0 we were coasting.
And a bonus was Southampton losing which means we're now second; they've still got a game in hand but they're now two points behind and with an inferior goal difference. Obviously still a long way to go but it feels like we're very much in the mix for that second automatic promotion spot...
And a bonus was Southampton losing which means we're now second; they've still got a game in hand but they're now two points behind and with an inferior goal difference. Obviously still a long way to go but it feels like we're very much in the mix for that second automatic promotion spot...
This may just have been the most important evening of the season. I wasn't expecting Southampton to lose. A vague hope of a draw, but even that seemed unlikely. Cracking goals for us though, and I'm gradually getting to quite like the Flamingoland pink strip!
https://www.skysports.com/football/video/30998/130...
The evening also did our goal diff no harm at all. Yes, So'ton are a game in hand, but are now 2 points behind and -10GD. Ipswich could equal us on points _if_ they win both theirs, but would still be 18 goals (give or take goals in their wins) behind us. Second place was a very nice surprise, however temporary it is.
4 matches in 10 days I think now? 14 games left, and somehow that both seems a long way off, and not that far...
https://www.skysports.com/football/video/30998/130...
The evening also did our goal diff no harm at all. Yes, So'ton are a game in hand, but are now 2 points behind and -10GD. Ipswich could equal us on points _if_ they win both theirs, but would still be 18 goals (give or take goals in their wins) behind us. Second place was a very nice surprise, however temporary it is.
4 matches in 10 days I think now? 14 games left, and somehow that both seems a long way off, and not that far...
Epic performance and to be honest, should have been a LOT more - Gnonto when we were two up should have buried his 1-on-1 chance and I think was it Rutter had a really good chance as well? Either way, absolutely dominant and we were quite happy to just let them knock it around a bit and we protected our lead, then scored a breakaway 4th hence the possession stats are a little misleading.
Rutter doing Rutter things, Gnonto on fire, Piroe chipping in with goals, teams not learning that letting Summerville cut onto his right is the equivalent of letting Salah onto his left, Gruev proving some early doubters wrong, Rodon and Ampadu being absolutely rock solid, Gray playing like a player with 10 years more experience than he has and Meslier coming up with the saves when needed. If I'm being hyper critical about our starting 11 last night, whilst Kamara was good there was at least 2 times when he did that stupid little drag back and turn which resulted in him losing the ball each time. Just keep things simple if you're under pressure. Similar with Firpo - I'm still not sure about his defensive capabilities and going forward last night when he should have been pinging low drives onto the edge of the 6 yard box he ended up with a weak pass straight into the keepers hands. That said, its better to be picking out little things like that after a 4-0 win than a loss!
Plymouth away next before Leicester at the fortress a week on Saturday. MOT
Rutter doing Rutter things, Gnonto on fire, Piroe chipping in with goals, teams not learning that letting Summerville cut onto his right is the equivalent of letting Salah onto his left, Gruev proving some early doubters wrong, Rodon and Ampadu being absolutely rock solid, Gray playing like a player with 10 years more experience than he has and Meslier coming up with the saves when needed. If I'm being hyper critical about our starting 11 last night, whilst Kamara was good there was at least 2 times when he did that stupid little drag back and turn which resulted in him losing the ball each time. Just keep things simple if you're under pressure. Similar with Firpo - I'm still not sure about his defensive capabilities and going forward last night when he should have been pinging low drives onto the edge of the 6 yard box he ended up with a weak pass straight into the keepers hands. That said, its better to be picking out little things like that after a 4-0 win than a loss!
Plymouth away next before Leicester at the fortress a week on Saturday. MOT
Considering not long ago there was a 15 point gap from 2nd (Ipswich) to 3rd and now Leeds are in 2nd - not bad going.
I think for the first time this season our destiny is in our own hands - win all our remaining games and we go up automatically !
Realistically we just have to match what Southampton and Ipswich gather points wise and then beat Southampton at home last match of the season !
Southampton have shipped 6 goals in 2 games against poor teams
I think for the first time this season our destiny is in our own hands - win all our remaining games and we go up automatically !
Realistically we just have to match what Southampton and Ipswich gather points wise and then beat Southampton at home last match of the season !
Southampton have shipped 6 goals in 2 games against poor teams
Just the last 14 games in a row to win then 
All things being equal, I wouldn't be surprised to see young Mr Gray in the full England team before many more years have passed. Incredible to think he is still a growing lad. I just hope we can hold on to him for a decent amount of time, and that he doesn't get bought up only to struggle to get on Man City's subs bench or whatever.
All things being equal, I wouldn't be surprised to see young Mr Gray in the full England team before many more years have passed. Incredible to think he is still a growing lad. I just hope we can hold on to him for a decent amount of time, and that he doesn't get bought up only to struggle to get on Man City's subs bench or whatever.
The way we started I thought we were going to blow Plymouth away the same as we'd done to Swansea earlier in the week but after the first goal went in we seemed to go off the boil a bit. However, it was still another good win and even though players like Summerville had a bit of an off day I felt we were comfortably the better team overall.
A bit of an unexpected bonus later in the day with Leicester slipping-up at home to Boro and, if we can turn them over at ER on Friday, we'll be only six points behind (which I'd have never thought possible going back six weeks or so). To be honest I still think they'll be promoted as champions but it might make them a little bit more jittery for their last dozen games if the chasing pack are only a couple wins behind...
A bit of an unexpected bonus later in the day with Leicester slipping-up at home to Boro and, if we can turn them over at ER on Friday, we'll be only six points behind (which I'd have never thought possible going back six weeks or so). To be honest I still think they'll be promoted as champions but it might make them a little bit more jittery for their last dozen games if the chasing pack are only a couple wins behind...
Plymouth fans seem to have become a bit obsessed about us so good to get another win over them. Fair play to their players and manager at the final whistle though going through the Leeds team and chatting/shaking hands. Hope they do well though - nothing against Plymouth. Two decent goals in a game where we barely got going, another clean sheet, Leicester loss ahead of their trip to ER on Friday under the lights - exciting week!
Lovely to see Willy get another goal and tactical masterclass from Farke to switch Piroe and Rutter which 5 minutes later yielded the goal from a great pass from Piroe. Bit unlucky not to get a couple more after we hit the woodwork twice too...
Lovely to see Willy get another goal and tactical masterclass from Farke to switch Piroe and Rutter which 5 minutes later yielded the goal from a great pass from Piroe. Bit unlucky not to get a couple more after we hit the woodwork twice too...
Leicester Loyal said:
Would snap your hand off for a point, got a bad feeling about Friday...
Good thing we've got a cushion ahead of 3rd (for now)
Truth be told, I think most Leeds fans would settle for a point too but we're on an 8 game winning run so why not make it 9 Good thing we've got a cushion ahead of 3rd (for now)
Hopefully be a good game and not like your game vs Ipswich which just felt really cagey...
Leicester Loyal said:
Would snap your hand off for a point, got a bad feeling about Friday...
Good thing we've got a cushion ahead of 3rd (for now)
It would make things a touch more interesting if we were to win on Friday as that healthy gap you had over 3rd place a few weeks ago would be down to "only" 6 points. Having said that, 6 points clear would still be a handy cushion with a dozen games left and IMO the reality is you'll still almost certainly go up as champions with (probably) more than 100 points. And of course if you win on Friday the gap over us will be back to a very comfortable 12 points and 9 points over 3rd even assuming Ipswich win their game in hand.Good thing we've got a cushion ahead of 3rd (for now)
It's been discussed on other threads as well as in here but the race for the promotion places in the Championship is quite unreal this year. We're comfortably ahead of the points tally we had after the same number of games in 2019/20 (when we eventually went up as champions with 93 points) but this season we could have a couple of sides achieve a similar points total and not get promoted at all, never mind finish top! A final points tally in the 80's is often good enough to secure the second automatic promotion spot but I very much doubt that will be the case this season....
Yes, I had those results the other way around too! For those who haven't caught up on the scores, Ipswich won, Southampton lost.
Which leaves us now all equal on games played, Leeds in 2nd place on merit, with Ipswich on the same points, but 3rd on worse goal diff (-14 compared to us). Southampton 2 points behind.
Which leaves us now all equal on games played, Leeds in 2nd place on merit, with Ipswich on the same points, but 3rd on worse goal diff (-14 compared to us). Southampton 2 points behind.
After last night I think that's the first time this season we've been in the top two without having played more games than at least some of the other promotion contenders? I still see it going right to the wire but we do at least have our destiny in our own hands, something that didn't look especially likely after losing to Preston and WBA just after Xmas....
JNW1 said:
After last night I think that's the first time this season we've been in the top two without having played more games than at least some of the other promotion contenders? I still see it going right to the wire but we do at least have our destiny in our own hands, something that didn't look especially likely after losing to Preston and WBA just after Xmas....
I just think what should have been if we had won those 2 as was expected.Gassing Station | Football | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff