Match Thread Home V Bolton Sat 6th March. 3pm kick off.

They beat us with a lucky gifted goal and we missed a pen, at the time they were terrible but so were we. Two totally different sides now, biggest two clubs in the league and the two in form. It’s simply the biggest game in league 2 this season and one I can’t wait for. No idea what to expect, a draw wouldn’t be bad but we’ll be going out to win as always.

Win and we’re one of the favs for promotion no two ways about it, I can see one of us getting promoted but not both tbh so this could be a deciding factor come game 46.

 

Does our win in the cup count?

 

You could not get (potentially) a more even game!

 

So Roger @wetherbywhaler, a little bit of light humour, on the back of a huge game on Saturday, do you still think we will finish above Bolton at the end of the season?

Hope so cos if we do, I reckon we might be watching league 1 football next season.

 

The mother of all rubber matches shame no fans as 20,000 fans I recon with both teams form. We win cup they get scabby win at there’s however both different teams. I’m going for 2.2 draw followed by win at Newport

 

This game is huge, have an awful feeling our run might come to an end but hopefully I'm wrong. But we'll need to improve performance levels from what we've seen over the last couple of games.

Hoping to see Evans come back in and I'd like to see Cook come back for Rowe as I think in current form he offers more.

 

Not sure I agree about Cook I thought we would miss him last night but Rowe did well in my opinion took his goal well and and was unlucky with a couple of others and as Trueman said his defending was better

 

What’s happened to the poll for this game? City to win 2-0.

 

I accept that after scoring tonight and generally improved performance it is a tough call. I just think we have a tendency to sit too deep with Rowe. I think we need to be more on the front foot against Bolton, last night we got away with it because - inspite of their possession - mansfield had very little attacking threat.

That we are even debating between two top players shows how far we've come.

 

OK Dave, I'll bite.
There are a lot of considerations here, the first is Saturday. On another post it has been suggested these are two different teams to early season. I don't agree, the current form says yes but personnel wise no, in the case of Bolton. As far as I know they are still playing the two central defenders, Santos and his mate, the two scorers, Doyle and Sarcevic and no GK on the bench. I don't know their remaining fixtures but as pointed out their current results have been against lower placed clubs and I think they maybe in a slightly false position in terms of ability, their fans seem to think so as they are at social media war with the Manager who they clearly do not and never have rated. BCFC on the other hand are un-recognisable personnel wise from our first encounter.
As for Saturday this game is important as a win could see us all but reach the magic 50 point safety mark which is all anyone at the Club is thinking about. If you heard the BBC interview with MT last night he refused to be drawn on promotion, repeating he wasn't sure how many more points we need before he can shift mindset. Absolutely right!
Ryan has described this weeks two games as 'pivotal' and he's right too. This runs right through the Club.
Back to Bolton, Clubs at this time run into or out of form in many cases. Cambridge have slipped a little with most games played, FGR have shipped goals, Carlisle are in danger of getting caught up with their fixture pile up, Crawley and Orient have/are sliding away, Newport have stalled, Stevenage are hitting form of sorts and Harrogate are lurking.
Our 5 fixtures coming up, 4 after last night will be the ones that allow me to answer your question. I've been hammered once for suggesting 50/53 points for safety, I now think 50 and sticking my neck out, will we finish above Bolton?, yes.
That's done it!!

 

Thanks

 

Bolton fans seem to think a win for them is just a formality.

 

I'm of the viewpoint that safety is done. I accept the need to get points on the board to get things 'done and dusted' but for all intents...

As for Bolton, dear reader, I was of the opinion early doors that Bolton would finish higher than us come the end of the season (I'm sure others said similar) and Roger, you as a fan, had a differing opinion. Fair enough.
I'm still of the opinion that a play off place would be a fantastic achievement but as @Lordbantam said on another thread, I would be disappointed now if we didn't reach the play offs. How things can change!!!! And how things have changed in personnel, as you say, at VP, in a positive forward way!!
I wasnt aware that Bolton fans still had it in for Evatt, the sort and style of manager I suggested. Bet if Bolton get promoted they will cut him some slack. Their again, they have a history of bemoaning appointments...
In my thinking, I'm still of the belief that Bolton will be well and truly in the mix. Doesn't matter which 6 teams they have beat, simply, still got to beat them. So if we can finish above Bolton I'm of the opinion, we will finish top 7 and confident we get succeed in my new aim, promotion.
I note you mentioned FGR, Carlisle et al which will be interesting to see if they can arrest their form but I have been very impressed with Cheltenham, following their defeat to us. 3 wins to nil, good response and the new benchmark for the league?
So let's be seeing you right and me wrong that we do finish above Bolton and I hope that starts Saturday.

 

Unfortunately I think we will run out of steam on Saturday. I would gladly take a point if offered now, however, I think a narrow loss in low scoring game.

If we do lose, not the end of the world, still plenty of games left to re-group and start another run to edge us into playoffs.

Should we get to playoffs, Bolton would be the only club I would want to avoid if we both reach them, that said, I think Bolton will finish top 3.

Lets hope the lads prove me wrong on Saturday. Wish Valley Parade was welcoming fans back on Saturday, would have been a hell of an atmosphere

 

The objective when the duo took over was to get to safety they will do that shortly. If we go on and achieve anything else it will be an amazing bonus.
To expect us to keep up this great form and run of results is a massive ask. With no points in the bag as insurance when the dip inevitably comes it becomes even harder. If we reach the play offs it will be a great achievement and we should realise that rather than expect it.

 

Oh Park, these must be halcyon days when I'm agreeing with so many of your posts.
Sillyness on my part aside, you are bang on in my mind. We have to have a dip but as I stated above, I would be disappointed if we didn't reach the play offs. But I agree, we can't expect it!

 

Surely we only concentrate on the job in hand. Us winning games or not losing important games?

We can't control results beyond.