DCFC1388

I'm in favour of pitch invasions, ever since that wonderful day as a 10 year old boy at the Baseball ground, high fiving Ron Willems and having a cuddle with Chris Powell!
I talk about that day every single time I see a pitch invasion elsewhere. I think about it now and then for no reason. 
It's a top 5 moment in my entire life and I like to think there are youngsters at Pride park who in 28 years time be looking back on the Carlise match in the same way I do that Crystal Palace match.
It doens't have to be ruined by thuggery, it can be magical

Paris Maghoma on loan from Brentford would be a very good signing. Having seen him a few times now this season he always seems to be Boltons best player & always causing the opposition problems

Paris Maghoma on loan from Brentford would be a very good signing. Having seen him a few times now this season he always seems to be Boltons best player & always causing the opposition problems

Paris Maghoma on loan from Brentford would be a very good signing. Having seen him a few times now this season he always seems to be Boltons best player & always causing the opposition problems

Paris Maghoma on loan from Brentford would be a very good signing. Having seen him a few times now this season he always seems to be Boltons best player & always causing the opposition problems

As someone said above, Posh can't finish with more than 89 points, same as Bolton, and we still have GD advantage over both.
So - if we reach 90 points it doesn't matter what either of them do.
Bolton's result last night puts them behind what I predicted, and makes it unlikely that they can now overtake us unless bizarre things happen on the final day.
Possible scenarios Rams v Trotters:
We win the last 2 games and we are 2nd no matter what.
We win and draw the last 2 games and we have 90 points and are still 2nd no matter what.
We draw both games, and if Bolton win both theirs then they are 2nd (89 points to our 88).  Same thing would also be true if Posh won their last 3.  However, since Posh play Bolton BOTH of those scenarios happening at once is impossible, it would be either one or the other above us but not both, and we would finish 3rd, with all the playoff advantages that brings.  Let's hope however that it doesn't come to that.
That seems to me to be a reason to really go for it on Saturday, as a win would really take the pressure off.  No point accepting a point on Saturday, as this would only increase the pressure to win on the last day. 
If we won on Saturday and got to 89 points then GD would kick in, and we would still finish 2nd no matter what happens on the last day.  Or at the very least we would go into the last day knowing that only the combination of both a heavy loss for us and a big win for Trotters or Posh (possible but unlikely) would change anything.

I think we may see just the 1 change to the starting 11 with Barkhuizen coming in for Thompson. Nothing to do with Thompsons performance but more because we need to win & before his injury Barkhuizen was looking good in the 10 role...
3421: Wildsmith - Nelson Bradley Cashin - Wilson Adams Smith Sibley - NML Barkhuizen - Collins
Vickers Thompson Bird Hourihane CBT Waghorn Washington
I can see Bird being back on the bench replacing Fornah.
With that starting 11 & the options from the bench should be good enough to win. Its got the right mix of defensive & attacking options in the starting 11 as well as quality options imo from the bench to freshen up the midfield & upfront. I dont think any other team in our league will have as strong a bench as us this weekend.

I think we may see just the 1 change to the starting 11 with Barkhuizen coming in for Thompson. Nothing to do with Thompsons performance but more because we need to win & before his injury Barkhuizen was looking good in the 10 role...
3421: Wildsmith - Nelson Bradley Cashin - Wilson Adams Smith Sibley - NML Barkhuizen - Collins
Vickers Thompson Bird Hourihane CBT Waghorn Washington
I can see Bird being back on the bench replacing Fornah.
With that starting 11 & the options from the bench should be good enough to win. Its got the right mix of defensive & attacking options in the starting 11 as well as quality options imo from the bench to freshen up the midfield & upfront. I dont think any other team in our league will have as strong a bench as us this weekend.

Just toying with some ideas. Love the idea of a bit of yellow being back on the kit. (I know there's probably too much yellow on this)

I think as soon as we know what league we’re in the club will start sorting things like contract extensions/releases and looking at securing signings.
Automatic promotion gives us that extra couple of weeks to put plans into action, I really hope we secure second place so we can start the speculation around signings, bloody love the summer me!

If we had ebou from the start and not so many injuries we would have won the league imo! 🐏⚽️🐏⚽️

This one game hasn’t changed my opinion.
The errors we saw when he first started at Derby made me, and suspect many others, wonder why on earth we had signed him. But his form since getting back into the team (baring the blip at Northampton) has made me come to conclusion for some time now that he’s actually a decent player at this level and possibly in the Championship.

Funny how 1 game can change an opinion.
He was solid today, 2 goals, a leader and potential captain material.
I doth my cap. There is a player there after all.

Great win and thoroughly deserved. I thought Smith was excellent today in midfield.
COYR
🐏🐏🐏

I’m looking forward to all the  tactical geniuses who called this a sackable formation and no chance of any goals, coming on here and admitting that they got it wrong. 

Shrews need something away at Bolton & as we know they're not the easiest to beat at home as we failed to do so....so hopefully Shrews can cause an upset at Bolton, a draw will do

Anyone having advocated for Bradley this season, would likely having been feeling pretty let down by him after the Northampton debacle, but he's been excellent today. A brave call from Warne (not one I'd have made!) and great to see the player working hard to redeem himself. 
Big 45 minutes ahead, but it's been quietly impressive so far. More of the same please!!!

Damn that Sonny Bradley and the formation eh? 

That lineup is a sackable offence.

Shrews need something away at Bolton & as we know they're not the easiest to beat at home as we failed to do so....so hopefully Shrews can cause an upset at Bolton, a draw will do

We could have had 7 or 8 today. Clinical from set pieces, but we squandered so many chances from open play too. Could have had 3 in a single 5 minute spell towards around the 75th minute mark.
Credit where it's due; Warne will have known he would be absolutely crucified for the Bradley led back 3 call, had we lost, or drawn, so I hope even his fiercest detractors will acknowledge his courage and game strategy today. No way I'd have played Bradley, though IIRC both @Ghost of Clough and @DCFC1388 I think called his selection more or less bang on.
The stats don't exactly scream it, but we've absolutely battered them today and on B4's birthday too!
COYR

I still think we will get 2nd, going into easter weekend I thought we would get 4 points from Blackpool, Pompey & Wycombe and we have ended up getting 5 points so despite last nights result we are still in a better position than I expected.
I watched Bolton vs Bristol at the weekend & they were dreadful, if they keep playing like that there is no chance of them winning all 4 games. Hopefully Port Vale need something when Bolton play them & Darren Moore can do us a favour.
7 points from our final 3 may still be enough too as that would mean Bolton winning 3 of their 4 games which would mean it going down to goal difference. I see Bolton getting 8 points max.
We will all know more by 5pm Sat, if we win & Bolton drop points its right in our hands and we will all feel more positive.

Personally wouldn't have Hourihane or Waghorn in the line up if I could help it. Hourihane runs like he's pulled both his hamstrings and offers absolutely nothing. Waghorn is just poor.
Surprising people wanting CBT on the bench cos he's had one bad game. Id start him.
Also find it bizarre anyone could possibly want NML up front. 
Id go with a 433. Hopefully Bird is fit. If he is I'd go:-
                 Wildsmith
Wilson, Nelson, Cashin, Sibley,
                    Adams,
              Bird, Thompson.             
Mendez-Laing, Collins, CBT
Smith for Bird if Bird isn't fit. We need energy in midfield.

Must win game, Warne says he may need to freshen it up as we looked tired vs Wycombe so I expect a couple of changes including going back to a back 3, so in a 3412 - 
Wildsmith - Nelson Bradley Cashin - Wilson Adams Hourihane Sibley - NML - Collins Waghorn
Vickers Ward Thompson Smith Barkhuizen CBT Washington
Could be either Ward or Bird on the bench.
That line up can easily switch between 3412, 3421 & 343.

Must win game, Warne says he may need to freshen it up as we looked tired vs Wycombe so I expect a couple of changes including going back to a back 3, so in a 3412 - 
Wildsmith - Nelson Bradley Cashin - Wilson Adams Hourihane Sibley - NML - Collins Waghorn
Vickers Ward Thompson Smith Barkhuizen CBT Washington
Could be either Ward or Bird on the bench.
That line up can easily switch between 3412, 3421 & 343.