Kernow

If they lose to Portsmouth they could be 7 points behind us with 3 games to play, and we could wrap up promotion at Cambridge. Wednesday is obviously massive for us, but next Saturday's swing could be pivotal.

A win guarantees their promotion. A draw means that Bolton would have to win their last 3 and Portsmouth lose their last 3 to finish level on points. A Pompey draw would also mean they need one more point, and Posh have to win all their remaining games to finish level. Posh v Bolton on the final day so obviously they both couldn’t catch Portsmouth. Realistically, a draw means they’re promoted, just not mathematically. A win will mean they essentially have the title wrapped up too.

Losing after 120 minutes would be good. Tired and demoralised.

Portsmouth just need to avoid defeat at Bolton and they’re essentially up. Hopefully that goes in our favour and we can capitalise at home to Orient. Combine that with a win at Wycombe and I’m hoping we can build a gap of 6 points with 2 to play, but Bolton will still have a game in hand at that point. All set up to go into the last day 3 points clear where avoiding defeat at home to already relegated Carlisle will see us up, what could go wrong there?

That’s a surprise

Some of the keepers out of contract that we might be able to attract if in the Championship show that Joe leaving wouldn't necessarily mean the end of the world. Marek Rodak Wes Foderingham Christian Walton Liam Kelly I'd also be tempted to have a punt at Karl Hein, but that's because I have a soft spot for Estonian goalkeepers.

Investment for the billionaire Rams

I wouldn’t necessarily expect him to be nominated either, but I don’t get why Ferguson has either. It’s all a bit irrelevant as Mousinho will win it, but still.

Oh I’m fully expecting the bed to be absolutely caked in s*** before long, don’t worry. With the fixtures remaining we should really not even have to worry going in to the final day, however I don’t believe we have ever once done things simply and I already know it’ll go down to the last few minutes of the last day.

I’ve put the remaining fixtures through the predictor thing. I think we’ll draw one of our 4, not sure which one, but I’ve put it down as Wycombe. Really we should win all 4, I just don’t think that’ll end up happening. At one stage we drop to 4th, but relying on two Bolton draws, I hope it’ll look something like this.

He'll be fine next season then.

Understand that one, Stevenage are way above where most expected. No idea why Ferguson would get in but not Warne or Evatt.

https://efl.com/news/2024/april/03/efl-awards-2024--shortlists-revealed/ Our nominees: NML - League One POTS Dajaune Brown - League One Apprentice of the Season. I’m surprised Ferguson is nominated for manager of the year, and Cashin must play badminton, or some other sport, because I don’t know how he hasn’t got a nomination for young player.

Bookies have us as more than narrow favourites. With SkyBet, we’re 1/3 for automatic promotion, Bolton are 3/1. The point last night was massive, I think we really have to s*** the bed if we don’t get promoted from this position.

We should be beating Wycombe no matter what. The idea that it’s a tough place to go is a bit of a myth. They’ve got the 13th best home record in the league and have only lost 1 more away than they have at home. We should’ve beat Northampton too, so nothing is a given obviously, but they’re in the bottom half for a reason and we have no excuse not to get 3 points. In reality, you probably couldn’t hope for a more favourable last 4 games. 12 points should be well within reach, anything less than 10 is poor from us.

Big Jon Stead

Easy to say that both ways, though. Their game in hand is at home to Port Vale, the midweek before the final game of the season. The impact of the game in hand may not even be relevant at that point. Looking at the games we both have, I’d back us to get at least the same number of points as Bolton, meaning the game in hand vs Port Vale wouldn’t matter, as they could only get to within a point of us. I think it’ll go down to the last day but if we don’t finish in the top 2 now it’ll be because we’ve messed up somewhere, we’d only have ourselves to blame.

Looking at Bolton’s fixtures, anything less than 10 points from their last 5 is a slip up from them. Rovers away and Shrewsbury & Vale at home should be 9 points. They should be able to get 1 point minimum from Portsmouth at home and Peterborough away. After last night, Portsmouth may be happy for a point again. They could go up in the Bolton game, but if they don’t lose then Bolton won’t catch them and they’re as good as up anyway. If we aren’t already up by the Carlisle game, hopefully Peterborough are 3 points behind us too. If they have any chance of getting top 2, they’ll give Bolton a much harder game than if they’re already confirmed in the play-offs. That means 10 points should be more than enough for us, or 9 points and hope we can rely on goal difference. Bolton winning the rest of their games would mean 6 wins in a row which they haven’t done all season. They also seem to go missing in “big” games and although they can score a lot, they don’t always follow that up with another good performance. I’d be surprised if 4 wins are necessary for us to get over the line, but I think if we don’t manage to win 3 of the 4 then it won’t be enough. I think we’ll do it, but only just.

Even if we won tonight, Pompey to beat Bolton all day long! I really couldn't care less about catching Portsmouth, I guarantee you that come around 14:30 on Saturday 27th April, if we are sitting in 2nd place, not one single part of me will be disappointed we didn't win the league. Get us up, get us out of this league, 2nd will be perfect thank you.

Take that, for sure. Yes, it could've been more but this point could make such a difference, it's no longer on goal difference if Bolton win their game in hand. We defended superbly, undone by a brilliant strike, which I don't think Wildsmith was at fault for despite getting a touch on the ball. Obviously if that had not gone in, we don't know how we would've held up, it would have been like the alamo as we were getting deep a bit too early, that's my only criticism. The point suits both of us. A defeat would've been disastrous, not only with zero points for us, but in the battle Portsmouth have going forward. In avoiding defeat, it means unless they lose vs Shrewsbury and Bolton beat Bristol Rovers, they can confirm their promotion against Bolton. In avoiding defeat we've basically given them the perfect opportunity against our closest challengers. Before today, I would've been delighted with 4 points from Portsmouth and Wycombe. If we don't beat Wycombe then tonight's result becomes disappointing. However if we can beat Wycombe, then we put ourself 2 wins away from promotion. Tonight's result has basically allowed us a fantastic opportunity to get ourselves over the line. Happy with that.

Bugger.

Tommo will be like one of those pucks on an air hockey table with this pitch.

Also played about 20 minutes before today after coming back about a month earlier than he was originally meant to. He's done a good job, but losing him again for the remainder of the season may have a bigger impact to our hopes than whatever happens in the next half-an-hour. It's similar with NML. Warne has to manage the rest of the season and the game ahead of us at the same time.

Gamble responsibly etc., but put your entire mortgage on Wildsmith getting a booking before the end of the night.

I think Blackett-Taylor is the unsung hero of the half. Ward will get the plaudits for the goals, but CBT is direct and causing them so many problems, they've had to overcompensate on that side which has allowed Ward more freedom. If the pitch wasn't so wet, I think he may have had an even better half. There's been more than one occasion where he's gone in to the box and cut inside, but the ball has held up on the surface or just got stuck under his feet. Keep doing what we're doing, the longer we're ahead, the more they'll commit. We will hopefully then have more space for the wingers to run into, it's just a shame we don't have too much pace on the bench to stretch the game if they're tiring. Someone like Barkhuizen would be ideal to bring on with about 20 left if we're still in front.