Promotion watch (now with Poll)

Shut him down and we win on thursday. Hopefully the back line comes out and puts in a "put things right" performance and locks him down.

I didn't realise how poor our recent record against Notts. Just 1 win in the last 10 league games against them, when Billy Knott scored the winner in 2014 in Notts relegation season from L1. Since they come up, they have 10 goals in 3 games against us..... perfect time to sort that record out I think!!

 

They arnt exactly winning a lot either. Three draws undefeated is one win and two losses for us . I realise it’s about momentum and confidence etc but the maths are unarguable . It’s a funny old game!

 

It's how it boils isn't it? Morale and 'things to get right' if you draw 3 in a row is probably easier to manage than if you win 1 and lose 2 in the same 3 game spell. Also the way it rolls out too, if you lose two then win the third the mentality is completely switched and you think you are on the right course.... If you win the first then lose 2 on the spin at this stage, suddenly everyone is in a crisis going into the run-in.

Our Easter of Notts (H) & Chesterfield (A) looks just as tough on paper as theirs in my eyes with Tranmere (A) and Colchester (H). Tranmere have won their last 3 at home and are in need of points, Colchester with 3 wins from their last 5 away from home and again mounting a PO charge.

 

Tough game on Thursday night but I believe if we win that game we will go up automatically ,if we don’t win we won’t and it’s who do we want in the playoffs.

 

Sadly, I think Saturday was the moment it fell apart. Still in our hands, but psychologically it'll be a killer. And we don't have cover for Smallwood. Not just losing, but the complete implosion from twice being in a strong position, is unforgiveable really. We need 2 home wins, and to avoid defeat at Donny. Not convinced either will happen - but a fast bounce back against Notts is essential.

Frankly, I just don't think we have the mentality to go up. Might be our 'nearly season', that serves as a platform to go one better next season.

 

Opta still have us at 61% chance of getting promotion

 

Less confident for Thursday than I am for Donny away tbh
Certain the players if selected and in the right formation have the mental toughness needed with or without Smallwood
Saturday was lost in the changing room at half time and some crazy notion that by having 7 defenders on the pitch would stop them scoring and have us hang on to the 1 goal advantage when we had already seen Swindons defensive frailties was our downfall
GA has to prove his worth get into their heads and pick a side that plays to our strengths not worry so much about the opposition, our only chance is the autos playoffs are not our route to L1

 

Skybet has us missing out now on automatic.

 

Did you watch County’s last home game ……They were really really poor. I’m not as worried against them as our old adversary Donny tbh. Neither will be easy Steve.

 

Thurs is a must not lose game and It’s very likely that Notts won’t be able to get autos, meaning they could field a weak team on the last day against Donny.
I think we’ll need to beat Donny to leapfrog them into 3rd place and then it’ll be in our hands on final day.

 

Unfaithful to the end

 

Why? I can understand the sentiment. As us supporters trudged out of Swindon, we were truly deflated. I believe the players will not be immune

 

My hope is that Notts will also be deflated after their game. A flat draw could be in order, or one team getting back on track. Hopefully, if it's the latter, then that is us.

 

Well let’s hope they can show a bit of character like they have done on other occasions in the last few months

 

I haven’t felt that deflated since the playoff loss at Carlisle.
The players will be hurting as will the Notts players after their home loss.
Which team will bounce back strongest?

 

I didn't go to Carlisle as I was abroad. It hurt but for whatever reason, not like Saturday. Swindon was gut wrenching, I feel maybe because I was present. The 4 hour journey home was terrible, little conversations in the car until we got to the West Midlands. I used the defeat to Millwall to equate how bad I felt.

To Thursday, I'm confident we will put in a stellar performance. Hopefully we get the 3 points.

 

The Millwall defeat was worse because there were no second chances plus the realisation we’d thrown away Championship footy and were faced with league 1 again.
We have 4 more chances to put the Swindon result behind us.
4 big games and 4 wins means we parade that trophy round VP.
2 wins and 2 draws is top 3 IMO.

 

GA confirmed that Baldwin and Lapslie still haven't trained due to this illness, and another player who played on Saturday has now gone down with the same illness.

 

Great, so now we have no captain and another unnamed player missing.

 

Colchester claimed that half their squad were affected by illness before they beat Notts county 1-0 ten days ago and Notts didn’t have a shot on target.