The League of 4

[windermereROYAL]

The only comfort I can take right now is that Rotherham have a very hard run-in, if they get more than 40 points then they deserve to finish above us, but I`m doubting they will,
Having said that our run-in isn`t a walk in the park either, it makes the next two games huge. Bolton are not far behind and they have some very winnable games coming up.

[Lower West]

Well, if we'd beaten Rotherham and Bolton instead of drawing to late equalisers we'd be 5 points clear and looking safe so it kinda does.

SIX points dropped from winning positions late in those games (two at Bolton and 4 against Rotherham). If Reading had held out in those games they’d be EIGHT points clear of the bottom 3 (currently 30 points would become 36 and Rotherham would lose 2 points reducing them to 28) .

Just goes to show how utterly inept the squad, management and tactics have been this season and all helped along by the unbelievable catalogue of injuries.

And it all could be a whole lot more embarrassing by this time next week of course.

I said Ipswich Bolton and reading down months ago and nothing has changed in my mind.

Unless QPR continue to implode.

[leon]

SIX points dropped from winning positions late in those games (two at Bolton and 4 against Rotherham). If Reading had held out in those games they’d be EIGHT points clear of the bottom 3 (currently 30 points would become 36 and Rotherham would lose 2 points reducing them to 28) .

Just goes to show how utterly inept the squad, management and tactics have been this season and all helped along by the unbelievable catalogue of injuries.

And it all could be a whole lot more embarrassing by this time next week of course.

I said Ipswich Bolton and reading down months ago and nothing has changed in my mind.

Unless QPR continue to implode.

Theres always one team that drops like a stone.

[Snowball]

Wigan

[Ascotexgunner]

I though Millwall would be below us but they are showing great fight. That win at Lampard FC was massive for them.

[Denver Royal]

Ascot, think Millwall caught Derby on a bad night, but their run-in looks tough to me (on paper), and losing the way they did at home to Preston yesterday wasn’t a good look.

[Sutekh]

Now to March. Have also extended the fixtures to show where Wigan and Millwall are playing in case one drops in to join the fun.

Saturday 2nd March

Ipswich Town v Reading
Millwall v Norwich City
Rotherham United v Blackburn Rovers
Swansea City v Bolton Wanderers
Wigan Athletic v Middlesbrough

Tuesday 5th March

Derby County v Wigan Athletic

Saturday 9th March

Sheffield United v Rotherham United
Bolton Wanderers v Millwall
Reading v Wigan Athletic
West Bromwich Albion v Ipswich Town

Tuesday 12th March

Blackburn Rovers v Wigan Athletic
Bristol City v Ipswich Town
Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield Wednesday
Reading v Leeds United (red button)

Wednesday 13th March

Birmingham City v Millwall
Queens Park Rangers v Rotherham United

Saturday 16th March

Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest
Millwall v Bristol City
Rotherham United v Norwich City
Stoke City v Reading
Wigan Athletic v Bolton Wanderers

Saturday 30th March

Derby County v Rotherham United
Ipswich Town v Hull City
Leeds United v Millwall
Queens Park Rangers v Bolton Wanderers
Reading v Preston North End
Wigan Athletic v Brentford

Not an overly pleasant month for Reading with stressful games against fellow strugglers backed up with a midweek visit from Leeds and a dodgy visit to Stoke (but then given Reading's atrocious away from even a visit to Hungerford Town would be a bit dodgy). Then there's a week off where Reading will no doubt somehow pick up more injuries before welcoming a decidedly useful Preston to town.

Reckon Rotherham have a couple of point opportunities against QPR and Blackburn while Bolton look to have a bit of an easier month than either Reading or Rotherham

As to Reading, they have to prove themselves with the visit to Ipswich and the home games with Wigan and Preston while anything from the other two would be a bonus. Sadly, after the dreadfulness of Saturday, no-one's particularly looking forward to anything.

[Ascotexgunner]

Confirmed that Bolton have new owners and theres a lot of positivity about the new owners up there.......Im not liking this....
This could give them a big boost.

[Hound]

looking at that, still angry that Derby screwed up against Millwall. They have a tough old set of games there, and would have only been 1 point ahead of us had Derby pulled their finger out and won.

[Ascotexgunner]

looking at that, still angry that Derby screwed up against Millwall. They have a tough old set of games there, and would have only been 1 point ahead of us had Derby pulled their finger out and won.

Looking at the Derby blogs, Derby were awful that night apparently and fuming at Lampard for his tactics.....

[leon]

looking at that, still angry that Derby screwed up against Millwall. They have a tough old set of games there, and would have only been 1 point ahead of us had Derby pulled their finger out and won.

None of it would have really mattered if we'd not conceded a really soft goal against Bolton and then another one against Rotherham.

[windermereROYAL]

Confirmed that Bolton have new owners and theres a lot of positivity about the new owners up there.......Im not liking this....
This could give them a big boost.

Didn`t Barnsley get new owners in about this time last year? I`m really not sure how new owners can make poor players perform better if I`m honest.

[windermereROYAL]

looking at that, still angry that Derby screwed up against Millwall. They have a tough old set of games there, and would have only been 1 point ahead of us had Derby pulled their finger out and won.

None of it would have really mattered if we'd not conceded a really soft goal against Bolton and then another one against Rotherham.

Looking at late goals, it seems to be a common theme doesn`t it? Derby, Brentford, Rotherham twice and Bolton, if only..........

[leon]

looking at that, still angry that Derby screwed up against Millwall. They have a tough old set of games there, and would have only been 1 point ahead of us had Derby pulled their finger out and won.

None of it would have really mattered if we'd not conceded a really soft goal against Bolton and then another one against Rotherham.

Looking at late goals, it seems to be a common theme doesn`t it? Derby, Brentford, Rotherham twice and Bolton, if only..........

Mental strength and leadership. Don't see a lot of that in this team.

Really need Rinomhota back as his work rate and commitment is lacking. Needing a 21 year old back who's only made 18 league appearances shows how poor the rest of the shower are.

[Stranded]

looking at that, still angry that Derby screwed up against Millwall. They have a tough old set of games there, and would have only been 1 point ahead of us had Derby pulled their finger out and won.

None of it would have really mattered if we'd not conceded a really soft goal against Bolton and then another one against Rotherham.

Looking at late goals, it seems to be a common theme doesn`t it? Derby, Brentford, Rotherham twice and Bolton, if only..........

Think I read, with late goals - looking at those scored/conceded - they have cost us a net 5 points.

[Ascotexgunner]

Confirmed that Bolton have new owners and theres a lot of positivity about the new owners up there.......Im not liking this....
This could give them a big boost.

Didn`t Barnsley get new owners in about this time last year? I`m really not sure how new owners can make poor players perform better if I`m honest.

Well the players and staff will get paid, they possibly wont get a 10 point deduction because they will pay their tax bill now, and there will be more money for better backroom staff if required....and no doubt the fans may get a lift and there maybe a bit more incentive now to get out of trouble.

[Hound]

looking at that, still angry that Derby screwed up against Millwall. They have a tough old set of games there, and would have only been 1 point ahead of us had Derby pulled their finger out and won.

None of it would have really mattered if we'd not conceded a really soft goal against Bolton and then another one against Rotherham.

well yes. Rotherham *2 in fact.

[URZZZZ]

I don't think we should write Stoke off as a defeat, they've only won once in over two months and that includes two games vs lowly Shrewsbury. Stoke is a much easier game than Preston, who are on a really strong run of form

[Stranded]

Confirmed that Bolton have new owners and theres a lot of positivity about the new owners up there.......Im not liking this....
This could give them a big boost.

Didn`t Barnsley get new owners in about this time last year? I`m really not sure how new owners can make poor players perform better if I`m honest.

Well the players and staff will get paid, they possibly wont get a 10 point deduction because they will pay their tax bill now, and there will be more money for better backroom staff if required....and no doubt the fans may get a lift and there maybe a bit more incentive now to get out of trouble.

Hasn't the chairmen just agreed a sale in principle - still quite some way to go before the sale is actually completed.

[Stranded]

Now to March. Have also extended the fixtures to show where Wigan and Millwall are playing in case one drops in to join the fun.

Saturday 2nd March

Ipswich Town v Reading
Millwall v Norwich City
Rotherham United v Blackburn Rovers
Swansea City v Bolton Wanderers
Wigan Athletic v Middlesbrough

Tuesday 5th March

Derby County v Wigan Athletic

Saturday 9th March

Sheffield United v Rotherham United
Bolton Wanderers v Millwall
Reading v Wigan Athletic
West Bromwich Albion v Ipswich Town

Hadn't clocked Wigan's next 2 fixtures. Is possible, though unlikely knowing us - that come next Saturday we could know a win over Wigan will take us above them.

A win for us at Ipswich and Wigan taking no more than 1 point from Middlesboro and Derby would mean a win would see us go above them on GD at worst.