The Race For 5th and 6th

[Posh Hammer]

Ok, bit of a round up of where we are. For now, I've gone down to 12th, however if Gills or Vale can put a decent run together, they could put themselves in the mix. Looking more and more likely that its down to Bradford for that last spot.

Sheffield United look to have got back not rack after a poor run of form. 5th place looks pretty secure now. The race for 6th however is wide open. Peterborough have got themselves back in the play off race and currently hold the final play off spot. 5 wins out of 6 under their youth team manager has propelled them up the table.

Barnsley have also found serious form since a change of manager, and are just a point of the last spot. Rochdale may have an advantage over the two above them however, as they have a game in hand and a superior goal difference. However a 3-0 loss last night to Oldham didn't help them. Doncaster are another team who have been moving themselves into contention over the past 2 months, however their form is up and down. Fleetwood are only four points off the play offs, along with Oldham, but with goal difference against them, they will need to find some serious form over the last 8 games to sneak into that last spot.

Chesterfield and Bradford have both slipped down the table, but both have games in hand over most above them. Bradford would leapfrog everyone if they were to win their games in hand.

Sheff Utd P38 W17 D10 L11 F55 A43 GD12 PTS61
Peterborough P38 W17 D5 L16 F46 A46 GD0 PTS56
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barnsley P38 W16 D7 L15 F51 A50 GD1 PTS55
Rochdale P37 W16 D5 L16 F63 A50 GD13 PTS53
Doncaster P38 W14 D11 L13 F48 A48 GD0 PTS53
Fleetwood P38 W14 D10 L14 F39 A43 GD-4 PTS52
Oldham P38 W14 D10 L14 F49 A56 GD-7 PTS52
Chesterfield P37 W14 D9 L14 F54 A49 GD5 PTS51
Bradford P36 W13 D12 L11 F46 A42 GD4 PTS51

Games Left (games against teams in promotion/play off race in bold):

Sheffield United: Crewe (h), Barnsley (a), Doncaster (h), Oldham (a), Yeovil (a), Bradford (h), Leyton Orient (a), Chesterfield (h)
Peterborough: Coventry (h), Scunthorpe (a), Walsall (h), Swindon (a), Crewe (h), Barnsley (a), Crawley (h), Oldham (a)
Barnsley: Bristol City (a), Sheff Utd (h), Colchester (a), Chesterfield (h), Notts Co (a), Peterborough (h), Bradford (a), Rochdale (h)
Rochdale: Yeovil (h), Preston (a), Port Vale (h), Doncaster (a), Swindon (h), Gillingham (a), L Orient (h), MK Dons (h), Barnsley (a)
Doncaster: Bradford (h), Sheff Utd (a), Rochdale (h), L Orient (a), Fleetwood (h), MK Dons (a), Notts Co (a), Scunthorpe (h)
Fleetwood: Preston (h), Gillingham (a), Yeovil (h), Walsall (a), MK Dons (h), Doncaster (a), Colchester (h), Port Vale (a)
Oldham: Bradford (a), Bristol City (a), Crawley (a), Sheff Utd (h), Coventry (a), Chesterfield (h), Walsall (a), Peterborough (h)
Chesterfield: Walsall (h), Bradford (a), Yeovil (a), Crewe (h), Barnsley (a), Colchester (h), Oldham (a), Bristol City (h), Sheff Utd (a)
Bradford: Oldham (h), Chesterfield (h), Doncaster (a), Preston (h), Gillingham (a), Bristol City (h), Sheff Utd (a), Scunthorpe (a), Barnsley (h), Crewe (a)

 

[Walkley_Owl]

Blades all but guaranteed to be in, reckon the Dingles will take 6th

 

[Jamo]

I admire your optimism Walkley, but I'd be surprised if we did finish 6th. All of our remaining home games are against teams going for the top 6 so if we win those we're in with a decent shout I suppose. Would seem too good to be true considering how we were doing under Wilson.

 

[Chris]

Whoever finishes 5th or 6th will probably get beat by 3rd or 4th anyway

 

[Scrumpy]

Still got a feeling that Rochdale will pip it!

 

[Cas]

Dropping two points to Fleetwood last weekend ended our playoff hopes. We've only won 3 out of the last ten or something and most of our upcoming games are pretty tough. We'll probably slide further down the table. No chance of the playoffs for us.

 

[Ciderup]

After seeing them today, I would expect Barnsley to make it. They're a good side under Lee Johnson.

 

[LuSiVe]

That's the problem ... all of us can look a good side on one day and a disaster the next .... it's still up for grabs up to 5th for me.

 

[Dale4ever]

We may be there now but can't see us making it with our current injury crisis. Can get away with it against Yeovil at home but won't against other teams unfortunately.

 

[Jamo]

Where on earth have Rochdale come from? Suppose people were saying the same about us the other week as well tbf.

We've played well against the top two sides in the division the last two games, but we've still only taken 3 points from the last 3 games. Still, we've yet to play Bradford, Rochdale, Posh, Sheff United and Chesterfield so if we get a good haul from them then we've a decent chance.

 

[Craig]

Didn't you know Jamo? Keef is the bestest manager of all time...

 

[Jamo]

I would love it, LOVE IT, if it came down to a last day decider between us and Rochdale.

As long as we won, obviously.

 

[Fedora Dale]

I would love it, LOVE IT, if it came down to a last day decider between us and Rochdale.

As long as we won, obviously.

I hope it does (last sentence exceptex..

In fact, assuming a Blades meltdown, a 0-0 (or whatever it was against Huddersfield the other year) to give both teams a playoff spot would do nicely

I fancy your lot to dispose of MK; we'll do Swindon. Pissup at Wembley? ?? (Which we win...)

 

[Jamo]

Sounds good.

Apart from the "which we win" bit

 

[Ciderup]

I would love it, LOVE IT, if it came down to a last day decider between us and Rochdale.

As long as we won, obviously.

Have you got Rochdale on the last day? That would be an absolute belter! Two good sides IMHO. Don't underestimate the 'Dale, they're decent.

 

[LuSiVe]

We've got the Blunts on the last day ... Oh to have something riding on that

 

[Fandemonium]

Us to leapfrog our streaky striped neighbours in the last few minutes of the final game.

Be afraid Blunts, be very afraid...

 

[blademan89]

Big game next week now, should be a nigh on 20,000 crowd at oakwell. Fully expect a barnsley win as we are truly fucking pathetic. And all chessie fans pipe it fucking down you wont make the playoffs

 

[Shapemaker]

Big game next week now, should be a nigh on 20,000 crowd at oakwell. Fully expect a barnsley win as we are truly fucking pathetic. And all chessie fans pipe it fucking down you wont make the playoffs

Haha soz ard.

 

[blademan89]

Haha soz ard.

Whats that meant to mean

 

[LuSiVe]

We probably won't, but it'd be sweet if we made you not either

 

[blademan89]

We probably won't, but it'd be sweet if we made you not either

We will lose in them anyway if we get in them. You do make me chuckle though like theres some sort of rivalry

 

[LuSiVe]

In general I don't give a shit about you, but as I work in Sheffield in an office with Sheff U (and Wednesday) fans, it's nice to do a bit of winding up

 

[Shapemaker]

We will lose in them anyway if we get in them. You do make me chuckle though like theres some sort of rivalry

There is no rivalry but having to work with and listen to delusional bullshit coming from football fans from the big city it's just very pleasing when you fail consistently.

 

[blademan89]

In general I don't give a shit about you, but as I work in Sheffield in an office with Sheff U (and Wednesday) fans, it's nice to do a bit of winding up

If we make the playoffs if i had to choose the other team to get in them i would probably hope it would be you lot or rochdale

 

[Westbars_Spireite]

For us, and much more so Rochdale, to be in with a shout against clubs with far larger budgets is testament to the skill of their managers. We haven't had a fuckin' striker since Doyle left.

 

[LuSiVe]

Hey, we've got strikers, but I'd bet on none of them actually scoring a goal for us before the season's over ....

 

[blademan89]

For us, and much more so Rochdale, to be in with a shout against clubs with far larger budgets is testament to the skill of their managers. We haven't had a fuckin' striker since Doyle left.

Fully agree

 

[Jamo]

Agree, huge credit to Rochdale/Chesterfield/Fleetwood for being in with a shout this season, all after coming up from League 2 as well.

Still genuinely can't believe we are too. Any team's fate could change dramatically with a couple of defeats in a row or a couple of wins, our's included. If United win Saturday then I think that will be 5th spot sewn up, or at least a play off place. Whatever happens, we'll still have a huge say in who makes it given who we've yet to play.

 

[Westbars_Spireite]

Fully agree

Which is why I'm fully with Sheffield United fans who think Clough should be binned. For me, he ought to be embarrassed given his relative riches. Can you imagine what a decent manager could do in this division with the money he spent on a bloody full-back?