The Run In | Page 5 | Vital Football

The Run In

The team looks full of confidence at the moment and rightly so, we came on strong last season at the death and appear to be doing so again. 3rd place may just beyond us but who knows particularly if we can beat Vale and Wycombe. However even if we get in the play-offs I would fancy our chances I think yesterday (even if we didn't know it) clearly demonstrates that this team has the mental strength and character to achieve almost anything!

Totally agree with this. ??
 
....and hope the ref's union aren't taking an unneccessarily close view of Matt after yesterday.

That occurred to me too. Every ref in the country will now be watching Rhead like a hawk (if they weren't already). That probably knocks his usual shenanigans on the head for the rest of this season at least.
 
I reckon Wycombe have got the last automatic spot. Surely they will pick up 6 pts for their last few games, which will put them on 80 pts. Think that will be enough for them, particularly with their current form.
 
I think we will win our last 6 games ending on 85 pts in 3rd position.
Send your email addys if you want to know what I'm on. :grinning:
 
Here are the remaining fixtures for each club (in order):

Updated 9/4/18

ACCRINGTON
Exeter (H)
Yeovil (H)
Wycombe (A)
Newport (A)
Lincoln (H)
Swindon (A)
Current points: 83
Games remaining: 6
Maximum points: 101
Verdict: Horrific set of fixtures, with 4 more against teams chasing promotion. They probably have enough points in the bag to get them over the line to automatic promotion.

LUTON
Crewe (H)
Carlisle (A)
Forest Green (H)
Notts County (A)
Current points: 80
Games remaining: 4
Maximum points: 92
Verdict: Now 8 points clear of Exeter, only need a couple of wins to be sure. Going up automatically with Accrington.

WYCOMBE
Yeovil (A)
Lincoln (A)
Accrington (H)
Chesterfield (A)
Stevenage (H)
Current points: 74
Games remaining: 5
Maximum points: 89
Verdict: Very tough! Should have a play-off place in the bag, but the third promotion place could be wide open.

EXETER:
Accrington (A)
Chesterfield (H)
Crawley (H)
Stevenage (A)
Colchester (H)
Current points: 72
Games remaining: 5
Maximum points: 87
Verdict: Will be in the play-offs, and could challenge for third if Wycombe falter.

NOTTS COUNTY
Colchester (A)
Yeovil (H)
Grimsby (A)
Luton (H)
Current points: 70
Games remaining: 4
Maximum points: 82
Verdict: Their form since Christmas has been relegation form. County have taken just 1.2 points per game from their last 18 matches. The win over Coventry was unexpected, but they have four more tough games ahead.

LINCOLN
Port Vale (A)
Wycombe (H)
Colchester (H)
Coventry (A)
Accrington (A)
Yeovil (H)
Current points: 67
Games remaining: 6
Maximum points: 85
Verdict: At least one game in hand on everyone else in the vicinity. Three wins will take City to the play-offs. The third automatic spot seems to be between Wycombe, Exeter and Lincoln - five wins should mean automatic promotion if one win is against Wycombe.

COVENTRY
Crawley (A)
Stevenage (H)
Lincoln (H)
Cheltenham (A)
Morecambe (H)
Current points: 65
Games remaining: 5
Maximum points: 80
Verdict: Automatic promotion has gone. May struggle to make the play-offs, but will be grateful that Mansfield and Swindon cannot buy a win between them.

MANSFIELD
Stevenage (A)
Chesterfield (A)
Port Vale (H)
Yeovil (A)
Crawley (H)
Current points: 63
Games remaining: 5
Maximum points: 78
Verdict: Not a bad set of fixtures on paper, but they have picked up just 3 points from Flitcroft's first 7 games. Currently without a win in 8 games. Stevenage and Chesterfield next up are two tough fixtures. Struggling to make the play-offs.

SWINDON
Yeovil (H)
Newport (A)
Grimsby (H)
Colchester (A)
Accrington (H)
Current points: 63
Games remaining: 5
Maximum points: 78
Verdict: Tough final two games. With a very poor goal difference (+1), realistically they need at least 4 wins. Having taken just 6 points from their last 7 games, that appears very unlikely.

COLCHESTER
Notts County (H)
Lincoln (A)
Swindon (H)
Exeter (A)
Current points: 61
Games remaining: 4
Maximum points: 73
Verdict: With every game against promotion contenders and an inferior goal difference (+5), they have far too much to do. Surely out of contention.

CARLISLE
Morecambe (A)
Luton (H)
Port Vale (A)
Newport (H)
Current points: 61
Games remaining: 4
Maximum points: 73
Verdict: As per Colchester, even 4 wins would only take them to 73 points; another side with a poor goal difference (+7), Carlisle must surely be out of contention.
 
And the six-match form table for those in contention:

1. Accrington Pts18
2. LINCOLN Pts14
3. Wycombe Pts12
4. Exeter Pts12
5. Luton Pts11
8. Colchester Pts10
11. Notts Co Pts8
12. Carlisle Pts7
20. Swindon Pts6
24. Mansfield Pts2
 
Imagine if we could just win the next three games, the league table could start to look very different and we’ll really start to believe auto is possible.......or am I just dreaming?
 
And the six-match form table for those in contention:

1. Accrington Pts18
2. LINCOLN Pts14
3. Wycombe Pts12
4. Exeter Pts12
5. Luton Pts11
8. Colchester Pts10
11. Notts Co Pts8
12. Carlisle Pts7
20. Swindon Pts6
24. Mansfield Pts2

Missed one:
10. Coventry Pts 8
 
Have to say, think we will scrape into play-offs, but only because the players will be knackered from the emotion and effort from the Wembley trip. Plus, with all the media attention regarding Matt Rhead's dreadful challenge (seriously, even though i am Imps fan, that was an intentional challenge), the refs are going to pay more attention to our physical approach to games, which will be to our disadvantage.
Think it will be tight,but think we will get the points needed to finish in 7th.
 
If results continue to go our way as they have lately, we could secure a play-off place as early as next Tuesday.
 
The cut off for 8th is dropping. We must have 1 foot in the play offs now. It's not been a bad break from the league for us has it!

We just need to demonstrate that we don't do cup hangovers on Saturday now!
 
Here are the remaining fixtures for each club (in order):

Updated 10/4/18

ACCRINGTON
Exeter (H)
Yeovil (H)
Wycombe (A)
Newport (A)
Lincoln (H)
Swindon (A)
Current points: 83
Games remaining: 6
Maximum points: 101
Verdict: Will be promoted if they beat Exeter at home on Saturday.

LUTON
Crewe (H)
Carlisle (A)
Forest Green (H)
Notts County (A)
Current points: 80
Games remaining: 4
Maximum points: 92
Verdict: Only need a couple of wins to go up automatically with Accrington.

WYCOMBE
Yeovil (A)
Lincoln (A)
Accrington (H)
Chesterfield (A)
Stevenage (H)
Current points: 74
Games remaining: 5
Maximum points: 89
Verdict: Very tough! Should have a play-off place in the bag, but the third promotion place could be wide open.

EXETER:
Accrington (A)
Chesterfield (H)
Crawley (H)
Stevenage (A)
Colchester (H)
Current points: 72
Games remaining: 5
Maximum points: 87
Verdict: Will be in the play-offs, and could challenge for third if Wycombe falter.

NOTTS COUNTY
Colchester (A)
Yeovil (H)
Grimsby (A)
Luton (H)
Current points: 70
Games remaining: 4
Maximum points: 82
Verdict: Their form since Christmas has been relegation form. County have taken just 1.2 points per game from their last 18 matches. The win over Coventry was unexpected, but they have four more tough games ahead.

LINCOLN
Port Vale (A)
Wycombe (H)
Colchester (H)
Coventry (A)
Accrington (A)
Yeovil (H)
Current points: 67
Games remaining: 6
Maximum points: 85
Verdict: At least one game in hand on everyone else in the vicinity. Three wins will take City to the play-offs. The third automatic spot seems to be between Wycombe, Exeter and Lincoln - five wins should mean automatic promotion if one win is against Wycombe.

COVENTRY
Crawley (A)
Stevenage (H)
Lincoln (H)
Cheltenham (A)
Morecambe (H)
Current points: 65
Games remaining: 5
Maximum points: 80
Verdict: Automatic promotion has gone. May struggle to make the play-offs, but will be grateful that Mansfield and Swindon cannot buy a win between them.

MANSFIELD
Chesterfield (A)
Port Vale (H)
Yeovil (A)
Crawley (H)
Current points: 64
Games remaining: 4
Maximum points: 76
Verdict: Not a bad set of fixtures on paper, but they have picked up just 4 points from Flitcroft's first 8 games and are currently without a win in 9 games. Realistically need 4 wins out of 4 to make the play-offs, but very difficult to see them halting the tailspin now. Will lose at Chesterfield on Saturday to complete an incredible collapse from automatic promotion contenders to League Two certainties in six weeks.

SWINDON
Newport (A)
Grimsby (H)
Colchester (A)
Accrington (H)
Current points: 64
Games remaining: 4
Maximum points: 76
Verdict: Tough final two games in particular. With a very poor goal difference (+1), realistically they need to win all 4. Having taken just 7 points from their last 8 games, that looks beyond them.

COLCHESTER
Notts County (H)
Lincoln (A)
Swindon (H)
Exeter (A)
Current points: 61
Games remaining: 4
Maximum points: 73
Verdict: With every game against promotion contenders and an inferior goal difference (+5), they have far too much to do. Surely out of contention.

CARLISLE
Morecambe (A)
Luton (H)
Port Vale (A)
Newport (H)
Current points: 61
Games remaining: 4
Maximum points: 73
Verdict: As per Colchester, even 4 wins would only take them to 73 points; another side with a poor goal difference (+7), Carlisle must surely be out of contention too.
 
And the six-match form table for those in contention:

Updated 10/4/18.

1. Accrington Pts18
2. LINCOLN Pts14
3. Wycombe Pts12
4. Exeter Pts12
5. Luton Pts11
8. Colchester Pts10
10. Coventry Pts8
12. Notts Co Pts8
13. Swindon Pts7
14. Carlisle Pts7
24. Mansfield Pts2
 
Thought you would appreciate this cracker from Stagsnet tonight:

"I still say the Stags will finish above Notts County n Lincoln City this season.

Even if we don't get a win tonight at Stevenage."