Rival Watch

[Pepe the Horseman]

Not quite a relegation rival anymore, but Carlisle beating Stevenage 1-0. NGW has come off the bench for Stevenage at half-time.

2-0 now. Hopefully means Carlisle will survive long enough to give Cheltenham a good game.

[Sutekh]

Burton 0-0 Port Vale at ht.

Still 0-0 with 15 minutes left. Reading's next opponents, Northampton, are beating the former financial basket case 1-0 and Carlisle are 2-0 up still.

[WestYorksRoyal]

This would be Northampton's first win in 6. Similar to Carlisle a few weeks ago, I'm glad the streak ends before we play them.

[Sutekh]

Port Vale now leading 1-0

[Pepe the Horseman]

Port Vale get their first win of the year

[WestYorksRoyal]

Not quite a relegation rival anymore, but Carlisle beating Stevenage 1-0. NGW has come off the bench for Stevenage at half-time.

2-0 now. Hopefully means Carlisle will survive long enough to give Cheltenham a good game.

2-2. Doesn't mean much, Carlisle are done anyway.

[Clyde1998]

Not quite a relegation rival anymore, but Carlisle beating Stevenage 1-0. NGW has come off the bench for Stevenage at half-time.

2-0 now. Hopefully means Carlisle will survive long enough to give Cheltenham a good game.

Stevenage scored two late goals, including a 96th minute equaliser by former Reading U23 man Terence Vancooten.

[windermereROYAL]

Just noticed next Saturdays opponents Lincoln city are unbeaten in 14 games and visit Carlisle on Monday so very probably 15 games, shipped just 33 goals in 40 games.
Fair to say we`ll probably need to step up on yesterday to get anything out of this one.

[Franchise FC]

Just noticed next Saturdays opponents Lincoln city are unbeaten in 14 games and visit Carlisle on Monday so very probably 15 games, shipped just 33 goals in 40 games.
Fair to say we`ll probably need to step up on yesterday to get anything out of this one.

Anything at all from the next two will be a bonus

[WestYorksRoyal]

Yesterday's results were annoying, means we're not safe yet. But win at Burton and they surely can't catch us, and our form over 25 games or so is at a level where I expect us to pick up points from some difficult fixtures too. Still should be confident at this stage.

We shouldn't be viewing Bolton and Lincoln as free hits but opportunities to finish the job.

[Snowflake Royal]

Way to go yet with the magic number at 16.

At best it can be 10 on Monday night

[Franchise FC]

Way to go yet with the magic number at 16.

At best it can be 10 on Monday night

Colour me shocked if it’s below 13 on Monday night

[WestYorksRoyal]

Looking at the table, 1 more win is very likely to be enough given our GD. Cheltenham would need 11 points from 7, Vale 10 points from 6 or Burton 9 points from 5.

One of them might, but 2? Surely not.

[Silver Fox]

Burton, Port Vale and Cheltenham are 5, 6 & 7 points back with 5, 6 & 7 games to play respectively. It’s a tough shout to get 1 PPG more than the team you’re chasing so I’d fancy our chances that 2 of them won’t manage it

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Burton, Port Vale and Cheltenham are 5, 6 & 7 points back with 5, 6 & 7 games to play respectively. It’s a tough shout to get 1 PPG more than the team you’re chasing so I’d fancy our chances that 2 of them won’t manage it

Cheltenham's last three are Peterborough, Stevenage and Lincoln, the latter 2 could well be fighting it out for the last play off spot. Today's result a killer for them I reckon.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Burton, Port Vale and Cheltenham are 5, 6 & 7 points back with 5, 6 & 7 games to play respectively. It’s a tough shout to get 1 PPG more than the team you’re chasing so I’d fancy our chances that 2 of them won’t manage it

Cheltenham's last three are Peterborough, Stevenage and Lincoln, the latter 2 could well be fighting it out for the last play off spot. Today's result a killer for them I reckon.

The nature of it too, going 1-0 up and then losing as they did in a very winnable fixture. Will hopefully knock the stuffing out of them.

[windermereROYAL]

Just took a sneaky look at Bristol rovers and Burton`s recent home records who we have yet to visit, the last 16 combined they`ve won 3 between them.
Barnsley who we visit a week Saturday aren`t no great shakes at home either, 4 wins from 10.

[Orion1871]

Just took a sneaky look at Bristol rovers and Burton`s recent home records who we have yet to visit, the last 16 combined they`ve won 3 between them.
Barnsley who we visit a week Saturday aren`t no great shakes at home either, 4 wins from 10.

They'll be ecstatic that Charity FC are turning up then.

[Stranded]

Burton, Port Vale and Cheltenham are 5, 6 & 7 points back with 5, 6 & 7 games to play respectively. It’s a tough shout to get 1 PPG more than the team you’re chasing so I’d fancy our chances that 2 of them won’t manage it

Agreed, I think next week will pretty much finish off the relegation conversation for a couple of clubs one way or the other - some interesting fixtures:

Burton's next two are Oxford and Stevenage - who will both need wins if they are to stand any chance of stopping the Lincoln surge - given Burton have only picked up 2pts from the last 27 available, it is hard to seeing them picking up much more than a point there. They then finish against Cheltenham, Us and Fleetwood - at worst you would hope that by the time we go there, it will be a case of a win sees us confirm finishing aboce them.

Cheltenham are on a run of 1 win in 8 and have to play 7 games in 21 days. That will be very tough when in poor form and after losing from a winning position yesterday.

Vale have a kind run in, outside of Peterborough and Bolton, mostly playing teams on the beach, so they may fancy their chances to pick up enough to get out of it but I don't think they will catch us. As a betting man, I think Vale will overtake Burton on the final day - with Burton joining Cheltenham through the trapdoor.

[windermereROYAL]

Just took a sneaky look at Bristol rovers and Burton`s recent home records who we have yet to visit, the last 16 combined they`ve won 3 between them.
Barnsley who we visit a week Saturday aren`t no great shakes at home either, 4 wins from 10.

They'll be ecstatic that Charity FC are turning up then.

4 defeats in 12 (3 against the current top 3 sides) really isn`t so bad.