plymouthram

Have you been drinking, even if we did lose to Cambridge, there's no way Paul Simpson would let his Carlisle side win at Pride Park.

You need to look at the League One table again, us and Pompey are the lowest goal scorers in the top 6 teams and when you consider Pompey have had a whopping 13 penalties including tonight's which having watched was another dodgy decision.

Taken off Bolton forum tonight; It does hurt and that's what it feels like today. The point is bittersweet and should we get promoted it'll seem decent but given the context of our season it seems like another chance we've had that's gone wayward. Portsmouth are not a better side than us. They are however more consistent and ultimately that's what's done it. Couple that with the extra 8 points for pens they've had and it's a game changer for their season. Had we got the pen at the end of todays match we would've had a similar boon but it's not to be. Us and Derby have had the same number of pens this season but Wycombe and Portsmouth have had significantly more. Is there something substantial that they're doing that we are not?

Well to be fair, Bolton should have won, but that's football for you. I think they will get promotion, but fingers crossed, not 2nd spot, but through the play-offs.

I thought that Pompey had lady luck today, one shot on target and that was their goal. In the dying seconds of the match a Portsmouth defender handled the ball in the 18 yard box and the ref waved play on. They've also had a shed load of penalties awarded to them this season compared with us. Love to see Barnsley beat them on Tuesday night, followed by a home draw against Wigan (They won at Lincoln today). Then last game they are away to Lincoln. We win our 2 remaining fixtures and take the title on goal difference.

Bolton can ge a maximum of 93 points but have Pompey (h), Shrewsbury (h), Port Vale (h) and Peterboro (a). Peterboro can get a maximum of 92 (Like Derby). But they have 5 games to play in 13 days starting with Oxford (a), Fleetwood (h), Bristol (a), Cheltenham (a) and last game against Bolton at home. Between Bolton & Peterboro, one or both won't get maximum points because they both play each other on the last day. The way I see it; Pompey need a win this Saturday to secure promotion and also take the League One title knowing the trophy would be displayed at their next home fixture against Barnsley. Bolton, now see a chance to catch Derby in 2nd spot, both teams will be going for a win, so I see a draw. Peterboro also look to have a sniff of the 2nd spot but face Oxford away who need to pick up points to hold on to that 6th spot. Peterboro have'nt drawn a league match since January, so I'm thinking this would also be a draw. Derby, with the points in the bag (always better than games in hand at this squeeky bum time of the season) have Orient (h), Cambridge (a) and already relegated Carlisle at home. Win all three and we should secure 2nd spot. Well we did win 4 on the bounce at the begining of last month. It could end up with more twists and turns yet and possibly the 2nd spot might be won on goal difference.

Warne got it wrong playing Washington and Collins together, it did'nt work. Taking Smith off, when he was one of our better players, also did'nt make sense. When is Gayle fit, he would have put one of the chances away tonight that others fluffed.

Our history in the 3rd tier of football: 1955/6 season W28 D7 L11 Scored 110 goals, 63 pts(finished 2nd, only winners went up). 1956/57 season W26 D11 L9 111 goals scored, 63 pts (finished 1st, Champions). 1984/85 season W19 D13 L14 70pts 65 goals scored (finished 7th). 1985/86 season W23 D15 L8 84pts 80 goals scored (finished 3rd and back then, that was automatic promotion). 2022/23 season W21 D13 L12 76 pts 67 goals scored (finished 7th, did not make the play-offs). Looking at the history, we have got promoted each time on our 2nd season. 3 wins would equal our best win total in a season, 4 would be a new club record. Even with just one more away win would be a new club record. 4 more points would see us break another club record. I'm greedy for the club to have success, get promotion this season, keeping up with our sequence of 2nd season promotion. beat the points total record, beat the away wins total. And if this happens we will definitely finish 2nd.

Pompey could easily lose at Bolton, they could lose at home to Barnsley who only lost their 2nd away game of the season today. Wigan might be Pompey's last win, having Lincoln away last game of the season. Which could mean they would finish on 93 points. The Rams would have to win all 4 games to finish on 94. It's a bit of a long shot, but not beyond possiblities. But I'm still sticking with 2nd spot, even though Bolton have the best chance of over taking us.

Did you know that, even though Derby drew at Portsmouth tonight, they've still drawn the least games in League One. Well I think it's time to make my prediction, the Rams will finish 2nd. The only way I would change that, is if Pompey don't beat Shrewsbury on Saturday and lose at Bolton.

The story so far: Portsmouth 25 league wins (14 of them by the odd goal), Derby also 25. Portsmouth scored 66 goals (lowest out of the top 5 teams), Derby 70 (only bettered by Bolton & Peterboro). Portsmouth have put away 9 pens out of their 66 goals, Derby only 5 pens. Portsmouth conceded 33 goals, Derby 35 conceded. After this clash Portsmouth have Shrewsbury (h) currently 18th, Bolton (a) 3rd, Barnsley (h) 5th, Wigan (h) 12th and Lincoln (a) in 6th. Derby; Wycombe (a) 13th, Orient (h) 10th, Cambridge (a) 19th and Carlisle (h) 24th. Derby need 5 more points to beat their club record of 85 points in a season. Also one more away win would be a new club record. A little harder to achieve is getting 4 wins out of our 5 remaining games to beat our current best which is 28 wins in a season.

Is that, their points deduction round two in May (Take That) another 4pts and relegation.

Are you stating that Pompey looking like a Championship side because they are nearly promoted, or do you consider them to be as good as a Championship side already. After all, they have won 25 matches, the same as the Rams. I'm not going to jinx the Rams by saying we are going to win, but I don't think we will lose.

Bolton have 9 first teamers out injured and if they still managed to win their next 2 and we lost at Pompey, they would have to turn their goal difference to be better than ours. They would still have Pompey and Peterboro to play in their last 4 games.

Looked on the top 5 teams forum sites and it seems most expect Pompey and Derby have got the top 2 spots. Still hopeful that we can go up as Champions though. I know Pompey have a game in hand over us, but if we win at Fratton Park, then their remaining 5 games throws up 4 of them against top half teams. But what is in their favour is that most of them are at home. After Tuesday night they have Shrewsbury (H), Bolton (A), Barnsley (H), Wigan (H) and Lincoln (A).

He's got no choice, no Bradley or Forsyth and only 2 centre halfs left. lets hope they don't get injured.

Would love to see him back and be given more than a few minutes to prove himself in League one. I do believe that there was a clause in his loan that he could be called back at anytime after completing 28 days at Gateshead.

Stevenage need to find to form, to do us a favour, they have'nt won for 4 games.

Portsmouth might be interested, along with Barnsley and Peterboro.

Points in the bag against games in hand at this stage of the season are more of an advantage.

I blogged a while back that goal difference could be decisive.

Even in the Championship maybe ?

Hope we are'nt giving it the LARGE one too soon.

I can't go anyway, cos I'm on holiday. I've been to every Wembley match (barring 1946) that Derby have made, so lets win all our remaining games.

Barnsley have only lost once on their travels in the league this season...... And that lone defeat was 3-0 at Pride Park and seeing they have to travel to Stevenage, Blackpool and Portsmouth they could at least win the Fratton Park match.