I assume ourselves and Luton will be 3rd and 4th.
Looking at the fixtures, I expect Millwall to do enough to get 5th or 6th. Their next 3 games are Birmingham, Wigan and Blackpool (with Blackburn at home on the last day). If they get 7 points then most of the teams below them (exc West Brom and Blackburn) would need to win all of their games to overtake them.
Tonight is massive for Blackburn. IF they win tonight they are in a strong position too - 3 points clear with a game in hand is a decent position but they have the toughest run in!
Sunderland will need to win all 4 and they have to play West Brom, Watford and Preston (and Huddersfield). Unlikely and will mean they finish with 6 straight wins.
West Brom have the game in hand but have Sunderland, Sheffield Utd, Norwich and Swansea (away). I think they will need to get 12 points minimum from 5 games.
Coventry have a very interesting run in! 2 very winnable home games (Reading and Birmingham) sandwiched between away trips to Blackburn (winner takes all?!) and then at the Riverside on the final day. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that we play Coventry 3 times in a row!
I think today's defeat has done for Preston. The last 4 games are Swansea, Blackburn, Sheffield Utd and Sunderland. I don't see them getting 10 points to get to 72.
That leaves Norwich and Watford. Watford can only get to 71 so I think they will come up a point or two short even if they win all 4. Norwich have 3 winnable games and then away to West Brom. Again, they will need to win all 4 as I don't think 71 will be quite enough.
So where does that leave us?
3 teams should be Boro, Luton and Millwall.
If Blackburn win their 2 home games over the next few days then I think it leaves them in a very strong position. They would probably only need 5 points from their last 4 difficult games to sneak over the line.
But if Blackburn drop points and lose to Coventry, then we could have a log jam on 72 points on the final day. It will be a lot clearer on Wednesday night!
Looking at the fixtures, I expect Millwall to do enough to get 5th or 6th. Their next 3 games are Birmingham, Wigan and Blackpool (with Blackburn at home on the last day). If they get 7 points then most of the teams below them (exc West Brom and Blackburn) would need to win all of their games to overtake them.
Tonight is massive for Blackburn. IF they win tonight they are in a strong position too - 3 points clear with a game in hand is a decent position but they have the toughest run in!
Sunderland will need to win all 4 and they have to play West Brom, Watford and Preston (and Huddersfield). Unlikely and will mean they finish with 6 straight wins.
West Brom have the game in hand but have Sunderland, Sheffield Utd, Norwich and Swansea (away). I think they will need to get 12 points minimum from 5 games.
Coventry have a very interesting run in! 2 very winnable home games (Reading and Birmingham) sandwiched between away trips to Blackburn (winner takes all?!) and then at the Riverside on the final day. It's not beyond the realms of possibility that we play Coventry 3 times in a row!
I think today's defeat has done for Preston. The last 4 games are Swansea, Blackburn, Sheffield Utd and Sunderland. I don't see them getting 10 points to get to 72.
That leaves Norwich and Watford. Watford can only get to 71 so I think they will come up a point or two short even if they win all 4. Norwich have 3 winnable games and then away to West Brom. Again, they will need to win all 4 as I don't think 71 will be quite enough.
So where does that leave us?
3 teams should be Boro, Luton and Millwall.
If Blackburn win their 2 home games over the next few days then I think it leaves them in a very strong position. They would probably only need 5 points from their last 4 difficult games to sneak over the line.
But if Blackburn drop points and lose to Coventry, then we could have a log jam on 72 points on the final day. It will be a lot clearer on Wednesday night!
