Optimistic look at the run-in
- Thread starter jackodiamonds
- Start date
CroJack
Key Player
You were right @jackodiamonds , Cardiff are losing at home to Blackburn. If we win tomorrow we'll be only one point behind.
IanABS94
Guest
I'd gladly take an undeserved playoff space just to deny Cardiff it. Let's hope!
IanABS94
Guest
Wooh, Well done Blackburn, now can we do the job tomorrow and close the gap?
Probably not.
Probably not.
CroJack
Key Player
We beat them easily last time we met.
Heck of a result! And that was one of Cardiff's "easier" games. Just hope the Swans can take advantage 
CroJack
Key Player
They were ahead twice....and lostHeck of a result! And that was one of Cardiff's "easier" games. Just hope the Swans can take advantage
Borini
Key Player
I liked this....They were ahead twice....and lost
Actually I loved it !!!
IanABS94
Guest
2-0 Fulham now with 15 to go. A point vs Leeds would be fantastic.
Yankee_Jack
Key Player
Finally, after 7 minutes of additional time.
Another good result for us with Brentford beating Derby 3-1 If we can only get something against Leeds, preferably a WIN, then we're in with a great chance of finishing top 6. I'm not impressed by Forest tbh although that won't be an easy game by any yardstick. Mind you, as @CroJack correctly pointed out, Brentford will be red hot favourites in the playoffs if they miss an auto spot.
The only downside is that Leeds will badly want to beat us to maintain distance between them and Brentford. Our lads will have to be at 100% for the whole game and leave nothing out there by the final whistle.
If we can only get something against Leeds, preferably a WIN, then we're in with a great chance of finishing top 6. I'm not impressed by Forest tbh although that won't be an easy game by any yardstick. Mind you, as @CroJack correctly pointed out, Brentford will be red hot favourites in the playoffs if they miss an auto spot.The only downside is that Leeds will badly want to beat us to maintain distance between them and Brentford. Our lads will have to be at 100% for the whole game and leave nothing out there by the final whistle.
CroJack
Key Player
Ok, let's see where we are at after the loss against Leeds.
6. Cardiff 64 points +4 goal score
7. Swansea 63 points +5 goal score
8. Preston 62 points +4 goal score
9. Millwall 62 points +3 goal score
10. Derby 61 points -1 goal score
11. Bristol 61 points -4 goal score
12. Blackburn 60 points +4 goal score
Cardiff fixtures:
Derby H
Middlesbrough A
Hull H
Derby fights for promotion, Middlesbrough & Hull are in the relegation danger. Cardiff can get max. 5 points out of 9 unless Hull are already relegated before the last game is played.
The best outcome for the Swans is:
Cardiff - Derby draw
Middlesbrough loss/draw
Hull loss/draw
Even if Cardiff draw with Derby and lose one of their last two games they will end the season with 68 points.
Max. six points.
Preston fixtures:
Brentford A
Birmingham H
Bristol A
I can't see anything else than a Brentford win. They play the best football in this league and they have the best attackers. Brentford are in an excellent form, they have recorded 7 wins in a row, and they have scored most goals this season. They are especially strong at home turf.
Birmingham can still be relegated, they are a very poor team but, interestingly, they have earned the majority of their points this season in away games. Preston are solid at home turf. I expect Preston to win this one.
Bristol have been in a free fall since February 15 but they have won their last two games, though against poor opposition: Middlesbrough and Hull.
Preston have had only one win since February 22, so I don't expect neither of them to be in the play-off places at the end of the season.
Max. six points.
The best outcome for the Swans:
Brentford loss
Birmingham draw/loss
Bristol draw
Millwall fixtures:
Blackburn H
QPR A
Huddersfield H
Blackburn can still reach play-off places and they usually play better when they meet a bit stronger opposition. So everything is possible here.
QPR have nothing to play for and they've lost 5 out of their last 6 games, the only team they have beaten was Middlesbrough away 0:1.
Huddersfield game is a tricky one. Of course it depends on the results for both teams in their two previous games but if Huddersfield is to be found in the middle of the relegation battle on the last day of the season, then they'll be a tough nut to crack.
Max. 7 points.
The best outcome for the Swans:
Blackburn draw
QPR loss/draw
Huddersfield loss/draw
Derby fixtures:
Cardiff A
Leeds H
Birmingham A
Both Cardiff and Derby have lost their last two games, but prior to that they have been in a pretty good form. Only one draw in both teams' last 10 games. Neither of them will want to lose this one, so I expect a sweet draw here.
Leeds don't want to slip this time and Brentford is threatening both Leeds and WBA, so I expect a Leeds win at their turf.
Derby will beat Birmingham, so Derby will earn max. 6 points from their last three games.
Bristol fixtures:
Stoke H
Swansea A
Preston H
Stoke have not reached safety yet, but their away form has been terrible since January 20 - they haven't won a single game. L 4 D 3.
Let's hope they are able to pick a point here, because this game can be their last chance to survive. Their last two games are against Brentford H and Forrest A.
Swansea have to win this one, so no joy for Bristol at the Liberty.
The outcome of the Preston game will depend on the league position. Both teams can be out of the play-off race by that time.
Max. 4 points.
Blackburn fixtures:
Millwall A
Reading H
Luton A
Millwall will be a tough game, but I expect a draw here.
Reading are a strange team. In their last 14 away games they have won 7, drawn 4, and lost 3. That's an excellent away form based on counter-attacking football.
Luton away will be a tough game for Blackburn. Luton's last 12 games only two losses.
Blackburn max. 4 points.
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The best possible outcome in the next round of fixtures:
Swans to beat Forrest or at least get one point
Cardiff - Derby draw
Brentford to beat Preston
Millwall - Blacburn draw
Bristol either to lose/draw to/with Stoke
6. Cardiff 65
7. Swansea 64 or 66 (wishful thinking)
8. Millwall 63
9. Derby 62
10. Bristol 62
11. Blackburn 61
Imho, 70 points will be enough to finish 6th this season, which means Swans need a win or a draw from the Forrest game, and two wins against Bristol and Reading.
6. Cardiff 64 points +4 goal score
7. Swansea 63 points +5 goal score
8. Preston 62 points +4 goal score
9. Millwall 62 points +3 goal score
10. Derby 61 points -1 goal score
11. Bristol 61 points -4 goal score
12. Blackburn 60 points +4 goal score
Cardiff fixtures:
Derby H
Middlesbrough A
Hull H
Derby fights for promotion, Middlesbrough & Hull are in the relegation danger. Cardiff can get max. 5 points out of 9 unless Hull are already relegated before the last game is played.
The best outcome for the Swans is:
Cardiff - Derby draw
Middlesbrough loss/draw
Hull loss/draw
Even if Cardiff draw with Derby and lose one of their last two games they will end the season with 68 points.
Max. six points.
Preston fixtures:
Brentford A
Birmingham H
Bristol A
I can't see anything else than a Brentford win. They play the best football in this league and they have the best attackers. Brentford are in an excellent form, they have recorded 7 wins in a row, and they have scored most goals this season. They are especially strong at home turf.
Birmingham can still be relegated, they are a very poor team but, interestingly, they have earned the majority of their points this season in away games. Preston are solid at home turf. I expect Preston to win this one.
Bristol have been in a free fall since February 15 but they have won their last two games, though against poor opposition: Middlesbrough and Hull.
Preston have had only one win since February 22, so I don't expect neither of them to be in the play-off places at the end of the season.
Max. six points.
The best outcome for the Swans:
Brentford loss
Birmingham draw/loss
Bristol draw
Millwall fixtures:
Blackburn H
QPR A
Huddersfield H
Blackburn can still reach play-off places and they usually play better when they meet a bit stronger opposition. So everything is possible here.
QPR have nothing to play for and they've lost 5 out of their last 6 games, the only team they have beaten was Middlesbrough away 0:1.
Huddersfield game is a tricky one. Of course it depends on the results for both teams in their two previous games but if Huddersfield is to be found in the middle of the relegation battle on the last day of the season, then they'll be a tough nut to crack.
Max. 7 points.
The best outcome for the Swans:
Blackburn draw
QPR loss/draw
Huddersfield loss/draw
Derby fixtures:
Cardiff A
Leeds H
Birmingham A
Both Cardiff and Derby have lost their last two games, but prior to that they have been in a pretty good form. Only one draw in both teams' last 10 games. Neither of them will want to lose this one, so I expect a sweet draw here.
Leeds don't want to slip this time and Brentford is threatening both Leeds and WBA, so I expect a Leeds win at their turf.
Derby will beat Birmingham, so Derby will earn max. 6 points from their last three games.
Bristol fixtures:
Stoke H
Swansea A
Preston H
Stoke have not reached safety yet, but their away form has been terrible since January 20 - they haven't won a single game. L 4 D 3.
Let's hope they are able to pick a point here, because this game can be their last chance to survive. Their last two games are against Brentford H and Forrest A.
Swansea have to win this one, so no joy for Bristol at the Liberty.
The outcome of the Preston game will depend on the league position. Both teams can be out of the play-off race by that time.
Max. 4 points.
Blackburn fixtures:
Millwall A
Reading H
Luton A
Millwall will be a tough game, but I expect a draw here.
Reading are a strange team. In their last 14 away games they have won 7, drawn 4, and lost 3. That's an excellent away form based on counter-attacking football.
Luton away will be a tough game for Blackburn. Luton's last 12 games only two losses.
Blackburn max. 4 points.
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The best possible outcome in the next round of fixtures:
Swans to beat Forrest or at least get one point
Cardiff - Derby draw
Brentford to beat Preston
Millwall - Blacburn draw
Bristol either to lose/draw to/with Stoke
6. Cardiff 65
7. Swansea 64 or 66 (wishful thinking
)8. Millwall 63
9. Derby 62
10. Bristol 62
11. Blackburn 61
Imho, 70 points will be enough to finish 6th this season, which means Swans need a win or a draw from the Forrest game, and two wins against Bristol and Reading.
Last edited:
KVetch
Key Player
I need to buy another tv again. Seems it was smashed up after Leeds. We need a team effort for 3 more games and if we get lucky and make the playoff we'll have to be even better. Swans played good football for most of that match against the top team. Cabango has done well with his time. Brewster needs to score in every match now.